B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation

8/8
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qa54.d4Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation2.7M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%1.1M48%
39%1.0M49%
11%282k50%
3.3%88k49%
2.1%56k51%
1.5%40k48%
1.1%29k47%
0.5%14k49%
0.5%12k48%
0.3%8.8k50%
Famous games in this line4.5k master games
Firouzja, Alireza (2759)Carlsen, M. (2847)20211–0Dominguez Perez, L. (2758)Carlsen, M. (2847)2021½–½Caruana, F. (2819)Mamedyarov, S. (2774)2019½–½Anand, V. (2764)Mamedyarov, S. (2765)20190–1Kasparov, Garry (2795)Anand, Viswanathan (2725)19951–0Karjakin, Sergey (2750)Mamedyarov, S. (2764)2019½–½Praggnanandhaa, R. (2746)Wei Yi (2763)20240–1Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2725)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2764)20120–1
Heroes of this opening Firouzja, Alireza · Mamedyarov, S. · Kasparov, Garry · Wei Yi
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B01
Line
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6
Read the guide: Scandinavian DefenseExplore all 45 Scandinavian Defense lines
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
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