--- title: There Are No Good Anti-Scandinavians description: You must accept the Scandi! image: https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=webp&h=550&op=thumbnail&path=ublog:vncd0VCP:wRNh8qFJ.webp&w=880&sig=015a4a14b94f4c2214d2e41b66d4eded453b7fcc --- *Anti-Scandinavians* are lines (after **1.e4**) that don't capture on **d5**, where White attempts to take us away from the known territory and get something different from what we're hoping for. ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:HK3ETZ0C66YK:keZUhejI.png&w=800&sig=2307aa7789e568958e1e0e30d37e2b5b87fa74f4) Since by playing **1... d5** we are actually attacking the **e4** pawn, White has to either move, defend or gambit the pawn. Refuting or declining gambits is pretty fun, so let's gloss over them first. ## **Part 1 — Gambits** There aren't many good ways for White to give up the **e4** pawn and have anything to show for it, since we didn't play either **e6** or **c6**, so our position is very flexible. The **2** most popular gambits (on the **2nd** move) are Blackmar-Diemer and Tennison. ### 2.Nf3 — Tennison Blunder... oh sorry, I meant Gambit *** Before anything, three quick rules: **1.** Defend the pawn with the **bishop** first! **2.** We are not giving the pawn back **unless** White goes **Qe2**. **3.** If White plays **Qe2** before **Bc4** — you play **Nc6**! Got it? > #### **Nc3–Bc4–Qe2** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/YgHmRrOT#0 > #### **Nc3-Qe2** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/0zaQroSx#0 > #### **Qe2** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/Ja3e50sy#0 If White breaks with **d3** of **f3**, simply capture and be a clean pawn up. There isn't much more to say about this dubious gambit. A much better try is the Blackmar-Diemer, where White doesn't dance with the **f3** knight without a purpose. ### 2.d4 — Blackmar-Diemer *** Okay, this gambit is *very strong*. White has more central space thanks to the **d4** pawn and very easy and quick development to follow it up. Engine always finds a way to consodilate, but I find this approach very impractical. Therefore, I believe we should decline this one. We can do that by taking on **e4**, but not bothering to defend it (**3.Nc3 e5!?**), but we can also use the fact that White played **e4** and **d4** and transpose to the Nimzowitsch with **2... Nc6**! The biggest problem with playing **1.e4 Nc6** is that White can simply decline it with **2.Nf3**, **2.Nc3**, or even **2.Bb5!?**, which they can't do in the **Blackmar-Diemer**! Now White has **4** main options: **3.e5** (Advance), **3.exd5** (Exchange) **3.Nc3** (Bogoljubow) and rare **3.Bb5**. **3.exd5** transposes to the Scandinavian, which I'll cover in a later post. First, let's focus on the open Variations, where White allows us to take on **e4**, starting with rare **3.Bb5** > #### **Pin d5** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/iNMqmMnH#0 > #### **Pin Nc3** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/aEEsAVZs#0 There is so much room for White to make a mistake and just go down a pawn. A much better way of keeping the position open is **3.Nc3** — The Bogoljubov Variation. It is very tricky for both colors. White can easily find themselfs under a lot of pressure with mindless moves, but so can Black. There isn't a simple way of avoiding all trouble for Black, but I'll do my best to guide you through the most common trenches. > #### **Bogoljubov** **Nxe4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/2PEhCMNU#0 > #### **Bogoljubov Qd4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/c0hcunun#0 > #### **Bogoljubov Bf4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/MpgBfIJ4#0 Last but not least is the Advance Variation after **3.e5**. We respond with **3... Bf5** and most likely **4... e6**. And like in the Tennison Gambit, here are some more quick rules: **1.** Against **Bd3** defend the **f5** bishop (**Nge7**, **Nh6**), don't capture on **d3**. **2.** Against **h4** (like in Tal Variation in the Caro) **DON'T** play **h5**! There are better ways to deal with the threat of trapping our bishop. **3.** Against **f4** play **h5–Nh6**. Develop around the **STRONG** centre. **4.** Against **Nf3** play **f6**. **ATTACK** the **WEAK** centre. **5.** Against **Bb5** play **a6**. **Bxc6** isn't scary as we get to play **c5** twice! **6.** If White does something weird, our main idea is the same — **ATTACK** the **WEAK** centre with **f6**. I don't want you to learn the lines instead of feeling the position, so I'll show only the ideas, but I might follow it up with a later post on the *Nimzowitch Defence* (including the *Declined Variation –* **2.Nf3**). ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:Fx9nv86cRSMq:oyOzew3w.png&w=800&sig=d67347a475b0b2f4339e6a21221d990402d51321) *4.c3 e6 5.Bd3 Nge7 6.Nf3 f6 7.exf6 gxf6 — Since we recaptured with the g-pawn, we aim to play e5 and castle queenside.* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:x3iE7JG4gm0h:54bgovHD.png&w=800&sig=9b5f279403c100b11e16a02cd2c776270a2b9d34) *4.c3 e6 5.Bd3 Nge7 6.Nf3 f6 7.O-O — if White has to end up recapturing with a pawn, taking on e5 is good.* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:EYcE4VmAwHSx:bdLxW2vF.png&w=800&sig=ddd0ed54e2ecd290406e7bf298cadb25085eedaf) *7... fxe5 8.dxe5 Qd7 9.Re1 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 a5 — Black doesn't have a weakness on e6, and can utilize the open f-file.* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:712NpmJaSztD:murM9fII.png&w=800&sig=8a74dc944cb41bc67471f932a2a97d5554a12935) *4.c3 e6 5.f4 h5 6.Bd3 Nh6 — better way of defending the bishop.* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:KKYpsJCsbraJ:Lom6zQ7t.png&w=800&sig=811cd6b5b171f577fc5284fd779b957150b695ae) *4\. Bd3 — now we can't defend the bishop with Nge7\, but White has a bigger problem to worry about\. Can you spot it?* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:agiYUeX3Pms6:XR5uGTWz.png&w=800&sig=d1f242abb3f68d22f066874c218b82a6a7afcbe4) *4.h4 Qd7! — with f6 on the next move White is under real pressure. Nf3 runs into Bg4, and f4 creates a hole on g4 after h5 by us.* ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:Nx9bMD8rTUh5:FKyJbIQQ.png&w=800&sig=80297319213fb2a348868571e120a7c2bd55d1de) *4.c3 e6 5.h4 f6! — After 6.g4 Be4! 7.f3 Bxb1 White will lose the e5 pawn. And 6.Nd2 fxe5 7.g4 Bg6 8.h5 doesn't trap the bishop, we have the f7 square!* Enough with the gambits (for now), let's look at what happens if White keeps the position closed by playing **2.e5** ## **Part 2 — Closed Scandinavian (2.e5)** Many people call it a *better* *Caro*, or a *better* *French* which is only true if White goes for **d4**, which they sometimes don't do, especially if we play **2... c5** — choosing **f4** instead. It's very annoying, as we get a very un-scandinavian position with no pressure on the **d4** pawn (because it's not there), and unclear plans. We don't want that, so what should we do instead? The plan is to bait out **d4**. We will start with **Bf5** and if White goes for something different than **d4**, we will not touch the queenside at all! With this we can get a better grip on the kingside with **h5–Nh6–Be7–O-O–Bg6–Nf5–h4** and sometimes even **Ng3**. Let's see that in action! > #### **d4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/gKtGwyNa#0 > #### **f4–d4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/nsPDEZGM#0 > #### **only f4** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/Etio6Wo8#0 I won't pretend that I understand the position if White doesn't commit to **d4**, in fact in these kinds of position I struggle, that's why my approach with delaying **c5** in order to bait out **d4** from White. And if that doesn't work at least you know **Ne3** never works. With the rook on **b1** runs into tactics, without it the **b2** pawn hangs. ## **Part 3 — Defending the pawn** The last way for White to adress the tension in the centre is to defend the **e4** pawn. The most popular way to do so is **2.Nc3**, which is considered the only serious alternative to **2.exd5**, but there is one big problem with it which I'll save for last ;). Only other sensible way is **2.d3**. If White tried **2.Qf3/Qe2** just take on **e4** and chase the queen, if **2.f3** go for **2...e5!** and enjoy a better position. ### 2.d3 — Endgame Offer *** Of course we aren't interested in a queen trade, instead we will prepare to take the full centre with **e5**. There are annoying details if you go for **2... e5** instantly, so I prefer to prepare it with **2... Nc6.** White can choose to ignore the tension (a normal Pirc position), or take it and we will get a better reversed centre game. ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:bg0pZEtP5fwp:xjakltee.png&w=800&sig=2163cb94c460039ac0bd9a00a276d9b42c49d17b) *1.e4 d5 2.d3 e5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qd6 — both 5.d4 and 5.f4 are very rare, but annoying to deal with, so why bother?* > #### **Centre game Nf3–Be2** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/Ie9s5JEv#0 > #### **Centre game Nf3–g3** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/3pgP8TYV#0 > #### **Pirc** **Nf3–Nd2** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/Y711SgAg#0 ### 2.Nc3 — Scandinavian Reinvitation *** Funnily enough, I used to play **2.Nc3** myself against the *Scandinavian* for some time with an amazing score (**64-27%**), but as I mentioned before, there is one little problem with this line for White. **2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Qd5!** and we either get what we want — the Scandinavian (after **4.Nc3 Qa5**), or what we want — a very aggressive position with opposite-side castling (after anything else lol). In case you are a Modern Scandi player (**2... Nf6**) going for **2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Nc6** with **Nf6** to follow is also a great option. Since this post is about *anti-Scandinavians* and White isn't forced to play **4.Nc3**, let's look at what happens when White still tries to avoid my beloved opening. > #### **4.Ng3** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/TDtjRpGd#0 > #### **4.d3** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/uttM8HYE#0 > #### **4.Qf3** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/Go8wpeiZ#0 ![image.png](https://image.lichess1.org/display?fmt=png&h=0&op=resize&path=ublogBody:TosN3UTSW5zt:wITTYVBR.png&w=800&sig=68ccfa0b5ed6717bd787c480e0a5c6e2e46ded28) But that isn't everything. Remember in the gambits section I wrote "The **2** most popular gambits (on the **2nd** move) are Blackmar-Diemer and Tennison". Turns out that by playing **2...dxe4** against **2.Nc3** we allow White **2** more gambits with **3.d3** and **3.f3**. Let's take a look at them, shall we? > #### **3.d3 — Dunst-Perrenet Gambit** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/F0ZyNyv0#0 > #### **3.f3 — Dougherthy Gambit** https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ/khCybLmi#0 Both of these gambits are extremely rare, meaning I'm yet to play the **Nc6–e5–Bd6** setup against *Dunst-Perrenet*, and the queen sac against *Dougherty*. ## **Part 4 — Surrendering** The same wy surrendering ends the game, it's time to end this blog. Thank you so much for your time. I hope you found my practical approach useful and the lines interesting. If I missed anything, or you have other interesting response message me, or comment and I'll definitely take a look! Next up in line are sidelines on the **3rd** move in the *Scandinavian* mainly **3.Nf3** and **3.d4**, but there are other weird moves like **3.Qf3**. I also want to cover the *Nimzowitsch Declined* (**1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3**) in the near future. Unless I find another interesting idea against completely unrealted opening (or maybe I already did). [Study link](https://lichess.org/study/bNTPazMQ). *Fly high Danya*