Short answer: The Scandinavian Defense starts 1.e4 d5. Black challenges White's centre pawn at once, and after 2.exd5 recaptures with the queen. It is sound, the early moves are easy to remember and the plan is simple: develop around the queen, castle, then break with ...c5 or ...e5. White keeps a small edge, as in most openings.
What are the main moves of the Scandinavian Defense?
The usual path is 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3, which attacks the queen, and then 3...Qa5.
The queen comes out on move two, which breaks the usual advice. It works because White has to spend a move chasing it, and Black's pieces then have clear squares. 3...Qd6 and 3...Qd8 are also playable. Learn 3...Qa5 first.
What setup should Black aim for?
Think of it as three jobs:
- Move the queen to safety, normally a5.
- Develop with ...Nf6, ...c6 and ...Bf5, putting the bishop outside the pawn chain before you play ...e6.
- Castle, then challenge the centre with ...c5 or ...e5.
The pawn on c6 gives the queen a retreat and stops a knight jumping to b5. Engines give White roughly +0.7 here, which is an ordinary opening edge and nothing to worry about.
How can White deviate on move 2?
Not everyone recaptures. This is what Lichess games show, using the data in the Opening Mastery Trainer:
| White's move 2 | 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% |
Across the whole opening, White scores 49%, Black 47% and 4% are draws. That is close to even.
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.
2.e5 can look ambitious, but ...c5 followed by ...Bf5 gives Black an easy game, and the engine rates 3.c3 as level.
2.Nc3 is a different story: after 2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Nf6, the position is also level on the engine.
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Playing ...e6 too early. It shuts in the light-squared bishop. Get it to f5 first.
- Skipping ...c6. Your queen loses a safe square and White's knight gets ideas on b5.
- Moving the queen again and again. After ...Qa5, finish development before touching it.
- Neglecting king safety. An open centre punishes a king left in the middle.
For more on this, see our post on 5 common Scandinavian Defense mistakes.
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for you?
It suits players who want a defence with few moves to learn and a clear plan. If you want the full numbers, read the Scandinavian win rate breakdown. If you play White and want to know how to face it, there is a guide on how to beat the Scandinavian. For a step-by-step plan from scratch, try how to play the Scandinavian Defense.
Try it yourself
Knowing a line and playing it from memory are different skills. Cover the answers and see how you do.
Try it yourself
Three quick positions. Say your move out loud before you open the answer.
Position 1. Black to move. How do you win the pawn back?
Show the answer
2...Qxd5. It is the first move to learn.
Position 2. Black to move. Your queen is attacked. Where does it go?
Show the answer
3...Qa5 is the most popular. 3...Qd6 and 3...Qd8 are alternatives.
Position 3. Black to move. How do you develop the light-squared bishop?
Show the answer
6...Bf5. Get it out before you play ...e6 and close it in.
Questions people ask
Is the Scandinavian Defense good for beginners?
Yes. The Scandinavian Defense has few early branches, the setup is easy to remember and you always have a plan. That makes it one of the simpler answers to 1.e4.
Is the Scandinavian Defense sound?
Yes. In the Lichess data the Scandinavian Defense scores 49% for White and 47% for Black, with 4% draws. White keeps a small edge, but Black's position is solid.
What is the main line of the Scandinavian Defense?
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5. In the Lichess data, 2.exd5 is White's choice in 54% of games, so this is the line you will meet most often.
Why does Black play the queen out so early in the Scandinavian Defense?
Black recaptures the pawn at once and accepts that White gains a move by attacking the queen. In return, Black gets a solid structure and simple development, which is the point of the Scandinavian Defense.
Where to go next
For every variation, the traps and when to play it, read the complete Scandinavian Defense guide. Still choosing a repertoire? The free 2-minute quiz suggests an opening that fits how you play.
Make it stick
One payment of £27 ($35), yours for life. Five minutes a day, 150+ openings, and it works offline. If it isn't for you, there's a money-back guarantee.
Win rates and line popularity come from Lichess games, compiled in the Chess Cheat Sheets Opening Mastery Trainer data.
