B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation
6/6
1.e4d52.exd5Nf63.d4Nxd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation2.9M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%1.4M53%
36%1.1M53%
5%148k49%
4.3%127k50%
2.6%78k52%
1.7%50k52%
1.2%35k53%
0.4%13k53%
0.4%12k50%
0.3%10.0k49%
Famous games in this line2.5k master games
Leko, Peter (2749) – Morozevich, Alexander (2741)Wang, Hao (2739) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2718)Anand, Viswanathan (2720) – Kamsky, Gata (2695)Yu, Yangyi (2656) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2718)Polgar, Judit (2630) – Kamsky, Gata (2710)Leko, Peter (2605) – Kamsky, Gata (2735)Nunn, John DM (2630) – Kamsky, Gata (2710)Short, Nigel D (2685) – Adams, Michael (2620)Heroes of this opening Nepomniachtchi, Ian · Kamsky, Gata · Leko, Peter
- Family
- Scandinavian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B01
- Line
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Scandinavian Defense: Kiel VariationB01 4.c4 Nb4Scandinavian Defense: Richter VariationB01 4.Nf3 g6Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Gipslis VariationB01 4.Nf3 Bg4
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