B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit

6/6
1.e4d52.exd5Nf63.c4e6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit2.3M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
81%1.8M45%
10%232k48%
5.2%117k54%
1.3%29k37%
0.9%20k49%
0.3%7.5k48%
0.3%5.7k38%
0.2%4.8k48%
0.2%3.4k38%
0.1%2.6k39%
Famous games in this line411 master games
Onischuk, Alexander (2657)Minasian, Artashes (2600)1999½–½Sokolov, Andrei (2595)Speelman, Jonathan S (2625)19880–1Wolff, Patrick G (2580)Dzindzichashvili, Roman (2550)19931–0Rakhmanov, Ale (2634)Csonka, B. (2456)20190–1Kharlov, Andrei (2613)Maslak, Konstantin (2473)20040–1Degraeve, Jean Marc (2589)Ekstroem, Roland (2492)20010–1Onischuk, Alexander (2580)Thorhallsson, Throstur (2500)1997½–½Oll, Lembit (2585)Stefansson, Hannes (2495)19931–0
Heroes of this opening Speelman, Jonathan S · Wolff, Patrick G · Csonka, B. · Maslak, Konstantin
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B01
Line
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6
Gambit
Read the guide: Scandinavian DefenseExplore all 45 Scandinavian Defense lines
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
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.

Study this opening