ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. g3+0.86

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. g3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.86).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.866. g3 Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 c6 9. Be3 e6 10. O-O-O Qc7
  2. +0.576. Be3 Nc6 7. Qd2 Bf5 8. Nh4 Be6 9. g3 O-O-O 10. O-O-O Nd5
  3. +0.536. h3 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. Qe2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. Re1 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. g3 for White, continuing Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 c6 9. Be3 e6 10. O-O-O Qc7. White is clearly better (+0.86). The next best moves are 6. Be3 (+0.57) and 6. h3 (+0.53).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Bronstein Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.86: white is clearly 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: Bronstein Variation?
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+).