Scandinavian Defense
1. e4 d5
2. exd5+0.54
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Scandinavian Defense (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. exd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.54).
Top engine moves
- +0.542. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Ne5 Bb4
- +0.042. d3 dxe4 3. dxe4 Qxd1+ 4. Kxd1 e5 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. a4 Nf6
- −0.022. e5 c5 3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 cxd4
Other move orders
- 1. e4 d5 2. b3
All Scandinavian Defense variations (41)
- Anderssen CounterattackB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5
- Blackburne GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 Nxc6
- Blackburne-Kloosterboer GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6
- Boehnke GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 e5 3. dxe6 Bxe6
- Bronstein VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6
- Classical VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5
- Grünfeld VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Ne5 c6 7. g4
- Gubinsky-Melts DefenseB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6
- Icelandic-Palme GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6
- Kiel VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nb4
- Kloosterboer GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6 3. dxc6 e5
- Kádas GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 c6 4. dxc6 e5
- Lasker VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3
- Main LineB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5
- Marshall VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5
- Mieses-Kotroc VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5
- Modern VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6
- Panov TransferB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 c6
- Portuguese GambitB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4
- Banker VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. c4
- Classical VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Nf3
- Correspondence RefutationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. g4
- Elbow VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ c6
- Jadoul VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 6. c4
- Lusophobe VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. Be2
- Melbourne Shuffle VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 6. Nc3
- Wuss VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Be2
- Richter VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 g6
- Schiller-Pytel VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 c6
- Valencian VariationB011. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
- Zilbermints GambitB011. e4 d5 2. b4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense?
After 1. e4 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. exd5 for White, continuing Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Ne5 Bb4. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 2. d3 (+0.04) and 2. e5 (−0.02).
Is the Scandinavian Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Scandinavian Defense?
B01. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).