B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit

7/7
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.b4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt Gambit811k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
71%575k45%
12%97k49%
11%92k45%
2.4%20k3%
1.8%14k3%
0.6%4.5k4%
0.3%2.1k45%
0.2%1.6k3%
0.1%8784%
0.1%8527%
Famous games in this line34 master games
Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) – Firouzja, Alireza (2728)20201–0Nakamura, Hikaru (2651) – Har Zvi, Ronen (2515)20071–0Ali Marandi, C. (2524) – Hungaski, R. (2537)20221–0Pancevski, Filip (2402) – Stojanovski, Dejan (2437)2010½–½Hansson, Dan (2230) – Hjartarson, Johann (2605)19971–0Runic, Zoran (2462) – Saric, Sinisa (2366)20080–1Lendwai, Reinhard (2385) – Sommerbauer, Norbert (2385)19950–1Buecker, Stefan (2335) – Michaelsen, Nils (2435)19930–1
Heroes of this opening Nakamura, Hikaru · Ali Marandi, C. · Hansson, Dan · Saric, Sinisa
Family
Scandinavian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B01
Line
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. b4
Gambit
★ Read the guide: Scandinavian DefenseExplore all 45 Scandinavian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Wuss VariationB01 2…Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Be2Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Classical VariationB01 2…Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Nf3Scandinavian Defense: Kádas GambitB01 2…Nf6 3.d4 c6 4.dxc6 e5
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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