B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Scandinavian Defense: Lasker Variation

11/11
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.d4Nf65.Nf3Bg46.h3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Lasker Variation237k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
64%150k45%
21%50k40%
11%27k44%
3%7.2k40%
0.3%72229%
0.3%64338%
0.2%42124%
0.1%25125%
0.1%23825%
0.1%16435%
Famous games in this line602 master games
Volokitin, Andrei (2671) – Bauer, Christian (2641)2005½–½Motylev, Alexander (2676) – Azarov, Sergei (2600)20091–0Karpov, Anatoly (2720) – Larsen, Bent (2555)19821–0Motylev, Alexander (2651) – Horvath, Csaba (2565)20041–0Safarli, Eltaj (2587) – Bauer, Christian (2590)2009½–½Kotronias, Vasilios (2590) – Ricardi, Pablo (2575)19970–1Karpov, Anatoly (2710) – Rogers, Ian (2450)19831–0Duda, J. (2678) – Munoz Pantoja, M. (2471)20161–0
Heroes of this opening Motylev, Alexander · Karpov, Anatoly · Ricardi, Pablo · Duda, J.
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 Bg4 6. h3
★ Read the guide: Scandinavian DefenseExplore all 45 Scandinavian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Jadoul VariationB01 2…Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.f3 Bf5 5.Bb5 …Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Melbourne Shuffle VariationB01 2…Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.f3 Bf5 5.Bb5 …Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein VariationB01 3…Qd6 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 a6
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
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