B01 · for Black · beginner
Scandinavian Defense
CoursePlay this line through, move by move →4/4
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd5
Black immediately challenges e4 with ...d5 and recaptures with the queen (or a knight), reaching a solid, easy-to-learn structure. It is a practical, low-theory choice, especially popular with club and improving players.
Key ideas
- Exchange in the centre at once to reduce White's options
- Reroute the queen to a5 or d6 to avoid losing tempo
- Develop naturally with ...Nf6, ...c6, ...Bf5 or ...Bg4
- Aim for a solid Caro-Kann-like structure with easy piece play
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation62.9M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
70%44.2M52%
14%8.6M52%
10%6.6M52%
2.9%1.8M53%
1.2%757k51%
0.6%354k48%
0.2%137k51%
0.2%121k51%
0.2%101k49%
0.1%60k43%
Famous games in this line17k master games
Caruana, F. (2805) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Caruana, F. (2801) – Carlsen, M. (2877)Caruana, F. (2808) – Carlsen, M. (2857)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780) – Carlsen, M. (2872)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2870)Anand, V. (2757) – Carlsen, M. (2870)Firouzja, Alireza (2759) – Carlsen, M. (2847)Dominguez Perez, L. (2758) – Carlsen, M. (2847)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Firouzja, Alireza
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Scandinavian Defense: Main LineB01 3.Nc3 Qa5 · 9 deeper linesScandinavian Defense: Valencian VariationB01 3.Nc3 Qd8 · 2 deeper linesScandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts DefenseB01 3.Nc3 Qd6 · 3 deeper linesScandinavian Defense: Main Line, Leonhardt GambitB01 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.b4
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