Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Scandinavian Defense: Classical Variation
10/10
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.d4Nf65.Nf3Bf5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Classical Variation243k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
32%78k48%
25%60k50%
21%51k51%
6%15k47%
4.9%12k62%
2.7%6.6k48%
2.5%6.2k47%
1.7%4.1k51%
1.4%3.3k45%
1.4%3.3k45%
Famous games in this line1.1k master games
Firouzja, Alireza (2759) – Carlsen, M. (2847)Dominguez Perez, L. (2758) – Carlsen, M. (2847)Caruana, F. (2819) – Mamedyarov, S. (2774)Anand, V. (2764) – Mamedyarov, S. (2765)Karjakin, Sergey (2750) – Mamedyarov, S. (2764)Kramnik, V. (2753) – Mamedyarov, S. (2734)Leko, Peter (2732) – Fressinet, Laurent (2700)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2763) – Kovalenko, I. (2657)Heroes of this opening Firouzja, Alireza · Mamedyarov, S. · Kramnik, V. · Fressinet, Laurent
- Family
- Scandinavian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B01
- Line
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5
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From the archives
'Scachs d'amor', a Valencian poem of about 1475, carries the earliest known game played by modern rules, and it opens 1.e4 d5. Five centuries later the Scandinavian is still the most direct answer to 1.e4: force matters immediately, accept the early queen move, rely on a solid structure. Larsen beat the reigning world champion Karpov with it at Montreal 1979.
Study this opening