ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Banker Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. c4

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

5… e6+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Banker Variation (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… e6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.315… e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. g4 Be6 8. g5 Ng8 9. Nge2 Ne7 10. Bg2
  2. +0.925… h5 6. Nc3 e6 7. dxe6 Nc6 8. Be3 fxe6 9. a3 Qe7 10. Bd3
  3. +0.955… c6 6. Nc3 cxd5 7. g4 Bd7 8. g5 Nh5 9. cxd5 g6 10. Nge2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Banker Variation?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. f3 Bf5 5. c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… e6 for Black, continuing 6. Nc3 exd5 7. g4 Be6 8. g5 Ng8 9. Nge2 Ne7 10. Bg2. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 5… h5 (+0.92) and 5… c6 (+0.95).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Banker Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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: Portuguese Gambit, Banker 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+).