Scandinavian Defence • page 1/2 • General Chess Discussion • lichess.org

Hello!!
I have been playing this opening with 2..Qxd5 across the 3 formats for a while now (bullet, blitz , and rapid) . I've been experimenting with different setups, particularly developing my bishop to e7 versus fianchettoing it with Bg7.

I'm interested in hearing from other Scandinavian players about which setups they prefer and why? I'm open to middle game plans , move ideas , personal experience, and instructive games

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

Hello!! I have been playing this opening with 2..Qxd5 across the 3 formats for a while now (bullet, blitz , and rapid) . I've been experimenting with different setups, particularly developing my bishop to e7 versus fianchettoing it with Bg7. I'm interested in hearing from other Scandinavian players about which setups they prefer and why? I'm open to middle game plans , move ideas , personal experience, and instructive games Looking forward to hearing your thoughts

lizani

The question is not where you put the bishop but the queen after 3 Nc3.
3...Qa5 is the classical reply but the queen may be exposed and have to move again.
3...Qd6 is more solid. Black can follow up with c6 in Caro-Kann style or more aggressively with a6 and b5.
3...Qxd8 looks passive but black can continue their development and play g6, Bg7.
3...Qe6+ is not as bad as it looks.

The question is not where you put the bishop but the queen after 3 Nc3. 3...Qa5 is the classical reply but the queen may be exposed and have to move again. 3...Qd6 is more solid. Black can follow up with c6 in Caro-Kann style or more aggressively with a6 and b5. 3...Qxd8 looks passive but black can continue their development and play g6, Bg7. 3...Qe6+ is not as bad as it looks.

Dumbdumbisbatman

@lizani said ^

The question is not where you put the bishop but the queen after 3 Nc3.
3...Qa5 is the classical reply but the queen may be exposed and have to move again.
3...Qd6 is more solid. Black can follow up with c6 in Caro-Kann style or more aggressively with a6 and b5.
3...Qxd8 looks passive but black can continue their development and play g6, Bg7.
3...Qe6+ is not as bad as it looks.

I personally quite like 3...Qd8 followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, but I still struggle to find a consistent middlegame plan in certain positions. The development feels natural, but I'm not always sure how to follow it up or which pawn breaks to aim for.

Do you have any particular games you'd recommend studying? I'm also open to learning more about the opening itself, particularly Black's main strategic ideas and what Black should be aiming to achieve in the middlegame in case of Qd8 after Qxd5 Nc3

@lizani said [^](/forum/redirect/post/tPs2L7jo) > The question is not where you put the bishop but the queen after 3 Nc3. > 3...Qa5 is the classical reply but the queen may be exposed and have to move again. > 3...Qd6 is more solid. Black can follow up with c6 in Caro-Kann style or more aggressively with a6 and b5. > 3...Qxd8 looks passive but black can continue their development and play g6, Bg7. > 3...Qe6+ is not as bad as it looks. I personally quite like 3...Qd8 followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, but I still struggle to find a consistent middlegame plan in certain positions. The development feels natural, but I'm not always sure how to follow it up or which pawn breaks to aim for. Do you have any particular games you'd recommend studying? I'm also open to learning more about the opening itself, particularly Black's main strategic ideas and what Black should be aiming to achieve in the middlegame in case of Qd8 after Qxd5 Nc3

lizani

Caruana played 3... Qd8 against Xiong in the US championship today. When the world's strongest active player adopts the Scandinavian in classical OTB you have to take the opening seriously.
The game illustrates the strength and weakness of the Scandinavian. Caruana easily obtained a solid position but unless White plays badly they'll maintain equality or a small edge.

Caruana played 3... Qd8 against Xiong in the US championship today. When the world's strongest active player adopts the Scandinavian in classical OTB you have to take the opening seriously. The game illustrates the strength and weakness of the Scandinavian. Caruana easily obtained a solid position but unless White plays badly they'll maintain equality or a small edge.

Playmore55 edited

He played Qa5, not d8

whatismymainbro

edited

I like qa5 and then moving the queen to b6 if white attacks it with bishop d2

Royals_Fan22

The queen is not very exposed on a5, this is a good square for the queen. If Black wants to give the queen an escape in case White tries to kick it, it can always play c6.

tpr

Larsen's idea was to play ...c6 and Qc7, so as to reach a Caro-Kann position without Panov Attack, or Advance Variation.
A model game with ...Qd8
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1768345

Larsen's idea was to play ...c6 and Qc7, so as to reach a Caro-Kann position without Panov Attack, or Advance Variation. A model game with ...Qd8 https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1768345

tpr

Here is a famous Larsen game. It was said that Karpov felt offended by Larsen playing an unsound defense against him.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1068107

Ans Anand even played the Scandinavian in a World Championship Match:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018629

Here is a famous Larsen game. It was said that Karpov felt offended by Larsen playing an unsound defense against him. https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1068107 Ans Anand even played the Scandinavian in a World Championship Match: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1018629

yossso1234

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYHosLqPpKE