Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation
4/4
1.e4d52.exd5Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation25.9M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
33%8.6M48%
21%5.5M47%
14%3.7M51%
3.9%1.0M54%
3%775k48%
1.3%339k46%
0.5%121k46%
0.3%84k50%
0.3%77k48%
Famous games in this line6.9k master games
Grischuk, A. (2750) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2795)Carlsen, Magnus (2810) – Short, Nigel D (2696)Wei Yi (2721) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2774)Carlsen, M. (2840) – Adhiban, Baskaran (2653)Leko, Peter (2749) – Morozevich, Alexander (2741)Topalov, Veselin (2801) – Kamsky, Gata (2686)Radjabov, Teimour (2761) – Kamsky, Gata (2725)Wang, Hao (2739) – Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2718)Heroes of this opening Vachier Lagrave, M. · Leko, Peter · Topalov, Veselin · Radjabov, Teimour
- Family
- Scandinavian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B01
- Line
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Scandinavian Defense: Panov Transfer3.c4 c6Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit3.d4 Bg4 · 8 deeper linesScandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation3.d4 Nxd5 · 3 deeper linesScandinavian Defense: Icelandic-Palme Gambit3.c4 e6
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