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 Variation4.c4 Nb4Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation4.Nf3 g6Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Gipslis Variation4.Nf3 Bg4
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
'Scachs d'amor', a Valencian poem of about 1475, carries the earliest known game played by modern rules, and it opens 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, rely on a solid structure. Larsen beat the reigning world champion Karpov with it at Montreal 1979.
Study this opening