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I hate the Scandinavian

I hate the Scandinavian

Only Chess

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My friend bought some video that had some great ideas about the Scandinavian.

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4

At this point you, as White, will play these moves in whichever order is most appropriate to Black's moves: c4, Nc3, Nf3, Be2 and 0-0. This simple development and claiming of space can usually be done while warding off any attacks by Black and wasting his time. You'll move into a middlegame in which you have all the advantages and Black hasn't developed all the way.

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try 2...e4 if he takes then Ng5 and it becomes compclated after that, an opening i'm studing on.

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Yes, the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit seems to be the only decent anti-Scandinavian (2. e5?? Bc5 = as black will have a french defense with a freed light squared bishop; 2. d3? dxe4 3. dxe4 Qxd1+ =+)

And if black chooses to play 2. e6 (or c6) then wouldn't the white player be in a better psychological position? For as an e4 player he is used to playing the French and CaroKann, but a person that plays the Scandinavian as black probably isn't a French or CaroKann player too.

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Originally posted by Korch
I would prefer to play Scandinavian than Blackmar-Diemer gambit.
Spice things up a bit 😴

[Event "Politiken Cup 25th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "2003.07.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Skytte, Rasmus"]
[Black "Tallaksen, Geir Sune"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 {Transposition} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 e6 6. Bc4 Be7
7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Bd2 a6 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Nb4 11. Be4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Rb8 13. Qg4
g6 14. Bh6 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. Qf4 Qd6 17. Qe3 Bb7 18. Rhf1 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 f6
20. Qh3 Kf7 21. Bf4 Qd5 22. Kb1 Rbc8 23. g4 h5 24. Be5 Kg7 25. Qh4 Qd8 26. gxh5
Rxh5 27. Qg4 Rf5 28. Rg1 Qe8 29. Bf4 Bd6 30. Bc1 Kh7 31. Qh4+ Kg8 32. Qh6 g5
33. Bxg5 fxg5 34. Rxg5+ Rxg5 35. Qxg5+ Kh7 36. Rg1 Qf8 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Qh5+
1-0

2 edits
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Originally posted by RahimK
Spice things up a bit 😴

[Event "Politiken Cup 25th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "2003.07.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Skytte, Rasmus"]
[Black "Tallaksen, Geir Sune"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 {Transposition} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 e6 6. Bc4 Be7
7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Bd2 a6 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Nb4 11. ...[text shortened]... Bxg5 fxg5 34. Rxg5+ Rxg5 35. Qxg5+ Kh7 36. Rg1 Qf8 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Qh5+
1-0
After 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 black can play 3...e5! with better position.

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Originally posted by Meneer Dries
What would be a good way to fend off a Scandinavian?(1.e4-d5)
I really hate it and don't know what to do
GO WITH 2.e5

followed by 3.d4 and 4.Nf3. you build a strong center and the pushed pawn often creates problems is a disturbing presence in the Black's half of the board

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Originally posted by el gil
GO WITH 2.e5

followed by 3.d4 and 4.Nf3. you build a strong center and the pushed pawn often creates problems is a disturbing presence in the Black's half of the board
2.e5 is harmless. After 2...Bf5 black can equalise without problems.

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I've never really respected the Scandinavian Defense. I don't think I've faced in in CC yet, and I can only guess at my score against it in Blitz, but I honestly think it is around 65-70%. It is probably true that the people I have faced that use it don't play it that well. It seems that White can do OK with straightforward developing moves. I'm know that the stronger players want more from White than a playable position though, but at my level it is usually enough to hold on long enough for you opponent to make a mistake. (Of course, you have to recognize the mistake in order to be able to use it).

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Originally posted by Korch
After 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 black can play 3...e5! with better position.
1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 exd4 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Bg5 Nf6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nxe4

Check some books/dbs:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=2253534&move=4&moves=e4.d5.d4.dxe4.Nc3.e5&nodes=21720.287531.288760.544614.544615.2253534

All taken from chesslive with 2000+ rating for the White player, only 4 games available:

[Event "HUN-chT 9899"]
[Site "Hungary"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Berkes,Ferenc"]
[Black "Seres,Lajos"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "D00"]
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Qh5 exd4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Bg5 Nf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nxe4 Qg6
9.Qe2 Be7 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.0-0-0 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne5 14.Bb5+ c6 15.Qf4 Qe6 16.Ba4 Ng6
17.Qf3 Qxa2 18.Bb3 Qa1+ 19.Kd2 Bb4+ 20.Ke2 Qa6+ 21.Rd3 0-0 0-1

[Event "EM/M/A100 email"]
[Site "ICCF Email"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Haika,Guenter"]
[Black "Zaniratti,Ivano"]
[Result "1/2"]
[Eco "D00"]
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Qh5 exd4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Bg5 Nf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nxe4 Qf5
9.Ng5 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 Rf8 11.Qe2+ Be7 12.N1f3 Nc6 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Bd3 Qf4 15.Nxh7 Rh8 16.Qe4 Qxe4
17.Bxe4 Rd8 18.Nhg5 Kf8 19.h4 Rh6 20.Nh7+ Kg8 21.Nhg5 Bxg5 22.Nxg5 Nb4 23.a3 Bb5+ 24.Kg1 d3
25.cxd3 Nxd3 26.Rd1 Rhd6 27.Rd2 f6 28.Nf3 Nc5 29.Rxd6 Rxd6 30.Bf5 Bd3 31.Bc8 Rd8 32.Bg4 Be2
33.Kh2 Nd3 34.Kg3 g6 35.Be6+ Kg7 36.b4 f5 37.Ng5 Kf6 38.f3 f4+ 39.Kh2 Rh8 40.g3 Bxf3
41.Nxf3 Kxe6 42.Rd1 Ne5 43.Ng5+ Kf6 44.Rf1 Nd3 45.Nh3 Rh5 1/2

[Event "DESC STS014 email"]
[Site "DESC email"]
[Date "2001.??.??"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Grott,Peter"]
[Black "Raimann,Max Guenter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "D00"]
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Qh5 exd4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Bg5 Nf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nxe4 Qe7
9.Kf1 Be6 10.Bxe6 Qxe6 11.Qb5+ Nc6 12.Qxb7 Bb4 13.Qxa8+ 1-0

[Event "Regionalliga SO 0304"]
[Site "Bayern"]
[Date "2003.10.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gruentaler,Gerhard"]
[Black "Rath,Martin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "D00"]
1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 e5 4.Qh5 exd4 5.Bc4 Qe7 6.Bg5 Nf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nxe4 Qg6
9.Qe2 Be7 10.0-0-0 Nc6 11.f4 Bg4 12.Nf3 0-0-0 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5 15.Nd2 Bh4 16.g4 Rhe8
17.Bd3 Re3 18.Bxf5+ Qxf5 19.gxf5 Rxf3 20.Nxf3 Bf2 21.Ne5 Be3+ 22.Kb1 Ne7 23.f6 gxf6 24.Ng4 Nd5
25.Nxe3 dxe3 26.Rhe1 e2 27.Rd3 Nxf4 28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.Kc1 Ke7 30.Kd2 Ke6 31.Rg1 Kf5 32.Rg7 h5
33.Rxc7 Ke4 34.Rxb7 Kf3 35.Rb3+ Kf2 36.Re3 e1=Q+ 37.Rxe1 Nxh3 38.Re6 f5 39.Re5 h4 40.Rxf5+ Kg3
41.Ke3 Kg4 42.Rf1 Ng5 43.Rg1+ 1-0


You have just been schooled. For your rating, I'm not impressed with the advice you offer.

Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.

Sincerely, RK

1 edit
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Originally posted by RahimK
1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 exd4 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Bg5 Nf6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nxe4
1) After 1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 black can play 4...Qxd4

2) In position after 1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 exd4 5. Bc4 Qe7 6. Bg5 Nf6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nxe4 Qg6 white need to fight for equality.

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Originally posted by RahimK

Ignorance can be cured. Stupid is forever.
What does you bumper sticker say about arrogance? 😛

3 edits
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Originally posted by Korch
After 1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 black can play 4...Qxd4
After 1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. Qh5 Qxd4 5.Be3 (5.Nge2 Nf6! =+)
Qd6 (black can also play 5....Nf6 with equal position after 6.Bxd4 Nxh5 7.Bxe5 Nc6 8.Bxc7 Nc6) In position after 5...Qd6 white cant take on e4 due to queen check on b4. So white have three main options:

I 6.Rd1 II 6.Bc4 III 6.Nb5

I
6.Rd1?! Nf6! 7.Qh4 (7.Rxd6 Nxh5 leaves white with at least pawn down without compensation. 7.Qg6 h6 8.Qg3 Qe6 9.f3 Nc6 and white have no compensation for pawn) Qb4 (with no intention take on b2 but simply keeping knight on c3 and being ready to develop without problems) 8.a3 (otherwise black will complete their development leaving white with material down {8.Bd2?? e3! -+}) 8....Qxb2 9.Nxe4 Bb4+! 10.axb4 Qxb4+ 11.c3 Qxe4 leaving white with material down without compensation.

II
6.Bc4!? g6 7.Qh4 (How else white can pretend to compensation for their pawns?) Be7! 8.Qxe4 Nf6 9.Qh4 (9.Qd3 allows black to exchange queens keeping extra pawn. After 9.Qf3 Qb4 10.Bb3 Nc6 black have clear advantage) Ng4 10.Qg3 f5!? =+.

III
6.Nb5 Qe7 7.0-0-0 (main idea of 6.Nb5) Nf6 8.Qh4 a6 (8...Nc6 can be also possible but it may lead after wild complications after or 9.Bc4 {9.Bc5?! Qxc5 10.Nxc7+ Ke6 11.Nd5+ [ 11.Nxa8? Nb4!] Ke6 12.Qh3+ Kd6 13.Nxf6+ Kc7 -/+} Bf5 10.Bc5 Qxc5 11.Nxc7 Ke7 12.Nd5+ Kd6! but 8...a6 is simpler) 9.Nc3 Be6 and white have no enough compensation for material.

1 edit
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Looks like that some self-proclaimed "chess teacher" has failed again 😀

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Originally posted by mipmcpt
what is the Icelandic gambit variation i have not heard of it?
Here is the Icelandic Gambit: 1 e4 d5 2 ed Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 de Be6.

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