Short answer: On Lichess, the Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5) scores 49% for White, 47% for Black and 4% draws. That is close to level, so you give up very little by choosing it. Most games go 2.exd5, and the odd second moves often score better for Black, though they are played too rarely to read much into.
What are the overall Scandinavian Defense win rates?
Across the games in the Lichess data inside the Opening Mastery Trainer, White wins 49%, Black wins 47% and 4% are drawn. White has a two-point edge, which is what you see in most openings because White moves first.
These are online games between all kinds of players, not engine matches. They tell you how the opening performs in practice, which matters more at club level than a computer evaluation does.
For comparison, here is the main line these numbers mostly describe:
Stockfish gives White about +0.7 here, a normal opening edge. It is not a problem for Black.
How does each White second move score?
Everything after 1.e4 d5 depends on White's second move. This table shows the most common ones, from Lichess data via the trainer index.
| White's 2nd move | How often | White wins | Black wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.exd5 (main line) | 54% | 49% | 47% | 4% |
| 2.e5 | 18% | 49% | 47% | 4% |
| 2.Nf3 | 13% | 47% | 50% | 3% |
| 2.Nc3 | 9% | 48% | 48% | 4% |
| 2.d4 | 2% | 49% | 48% | 3% |
| 2.d3 | 1% | 46% | 49% | 5% |
| 2.f3 | 1% | 45% | 51% | 4% |
Three things stand out. The main line and 2.e5 account for about seven games in ten. The results are within a few points of each other, so no single reply is scary. And 2.Nf3 and 2.Nc3 score evenly or slightly better for Black.
Don't just read about the Scandinavian Defense. Practise it.
Reading a line once and recalling it in a real game are different skills. The Opening Mastery Trainer tests you on the Scandinavian Defense (and 150+ other openings) with short daily practice, offline, no account needed.
Do the rare second moves really favour Black?
The very rare moves score best for Black on paper, but treat that with care. Moves such as 2.f4, 2.Qf3, 2.Bd3 and 2.Qh5 each make up well under 1% of games, so a handful of results can swing the percentage a long way.
The most extreme figure is 2.Bc4, where Black wins 63% and White 34%. That line is played so rarely that the percentage is shaky. What is safe to say is that Black has an easy game: after 2.Bc4 dxe4, the engine rates Black slightly better.
The practical lesson: learn the main line and 2.e5 well, have a plan for 2.Nf3 and 2.Nc3, and just take material when White offers it.
What do the win rates mean for you?
They mean the Scandinavian is a low-risk choice. You are not starting from a worse position than you would in most defences to 1.e4. The result of your game will be decided by how well you know your setup, not by which defence you picked.
That is the point worth taking from the data. A 49% to 47% split is small. A player who knows the first ten moves and the plan will do better than one who picked a "stronger" opening and has to think from move four.
Three habits keep the numbers on your side:
- Know one reply to each common move 2. The four moves at the top of the table cover nearly all your games.
- Develop the light-squared bishop before ...e6. It is the most common way Black spoils a good position.
- Practise recall, not just reading. The line you can play without thinking is the line that scores.
Try it yourself
Cover the answers and see how you do.
Try it yourself
Three positions from the table above. Say your move before you open the answer.
Position 1. Black to move. What is the most common reply, played in more than half of games?
Show the answer
2...Qxd5. The queen recaptures at once and White will gain a tempo with Nc3.
Position 2. Black to move. White offers a pawn. What do you do?
Show the answer
2...dxe4. Take it. The engine rates Black slightly better.
Position 3. Black to move. Your queen is attacked. Where does it go?
Show the answer
3...Qa5, the most popular square. It keeps an eye on the e1-a5 diagonal.
Questions people ask
What is the win rate of the Scandinavian Defense?
On Lichess, the Scandinavian Defense scores 49% for White, 47% for Black and 4% draws, according to the data in the Opening Mastery Trainer. That is close to even.
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for Black?
Yes. Black scores within two points of White and gets a solid setup. White keeps a small edge, as in most openings, but the Scandinavian is playable at every level.
Which second move scores best against the Scandinavian Defense?
In the Lichess data, 2.exd5, 2.e5 and 2.d4 all score 49% for White, the highest of the common moves. Even so, the gap to Black is only a few points.
Can I trust Lichess win rates for the Scandinavian Defense?
For common lines, yes, as a guide to how the opening plays in real games. For rare second moves the sample is small, so the percentages can swing a lot and should be read with care.
Where to go next
For every variation in one place, read the complete Scandinavian Defense guide. If you want the plan first, start with how to play the Scandinavian Defense. Playing White against it? See how to beat the Scandinavian Defense as White.
Not sure the Scandinavian suits you? The free 2-minute quiz suggests an opening that fits how you play.
Make it stick
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Win rates and line popularity come from Lichess games, compiled in the Chess Cheat Sheets Opening Mastery Trainer data.
