Scandinavian Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Strike the center immediately and trade queens early for a simple, comfortable game.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Bc4 Bf5 7. Bd2 e6 8. Qe2 Bb4

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... d5 — Challenge the e4 pawn immediately.
3. 2. exd5 — Take the pawn.
4. 2... Qxd5 — Recapture with the queen, developing it early.
5. 3. Nc3 — Develop with an attack on the queen.
6. 3... Qa5 — Move the queen to a safe square.
7. 4. d4 — Take the center.
8. 4... Nf6 — Develop the knight and hit the center.
9. 5. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
10. 5... c6 — Give the queen a retreat square on c7.
11. 6. Bc4 — Develop the bishop with an eye on f7.
12. 6... Bf5 — Develop the bishop outside the pawn chain.
13. 7. Bd2 — Develop the bishop and keep the queen under watch.
14. 7... e6 — Solid support for the center.
15. 8. Qe2 — Develop the queen and prepare to castle long.
16. 8... Bb4 — Pin the knight on c3.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Pirc Defense
• King's Indian Defense

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