ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5

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

4. Nf3+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.634. Nf3 e6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5 Bd6
  2. +0.544. c4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c5 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 Bd6 8. dxe6 Bxe6
  3. +0.434. Be2 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. c4 Nb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing e6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5 Bd6. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 4. c4 (+0.54) and 4. Be2 (+0.43).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Marshall Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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: Marshall 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+).