B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Scandinavian Defense: Grünfeld Variation

13/13
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.d4Nf65.Nf3Bf56.Ne5c67.g4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Grünfeld Variation8.4k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
59%4.9k36%
28%2.3k44%
9.7%81456%
2.8%23336%
0.6%5035%
0.2%186%
0.1%922%
0%425%
0%40%
0%30%
Famous games in this line78 master games
Durarbayli, V. (2609)Kovalenko, I. (2647)20191–0Macieja, Bartlomiej (2583)Papaioannou, Ioannis (2619)20131–0Vasiukov, Evgeni (2580)Kholmov, Ratmir D (2550)19760–1Zhang Pengxiang (2574)Yu Ruiyuan (2553)2013½–½Mchedlishvili, M. (2574)Sadorra, J. (2542)2024½–½Tseshkovsky, Vitaly (2589)Savic, Miodrag R (2521)20051–0Suleymanli, Aydin (2607)Gadimbayli, Abdulla (2489)20241–0Macieja, Bartlomiej (2629)Tomczak, Jacek (2457)20071–0
Heroes of this opening Macieja, Bartlomiej · Durarbayli, V. · Kholmov, Ratmir D · Tseshkovsky, Vitaly
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 6. Ne5 c6 7. g4
Read the guide: Scandinavian DefenseExplore all 45 Scandinavian Defense lines
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From the archives

The oldest recorded game of modern chess — Valencia, 1475, 'Scachs d'amor' — opened 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, and rely on a rock-solid structure. Larsen even used it to beat Karpov.

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