i also use this defense but with 3....Nf6.Hope you can post an article with this variation.

Are you sure?  3. Nc3 threatens the queen, which is why black's three most common moves are 3...Qa5/Qd7/Qd8.  Perhaps you mean 2...Nf6, the Marshall's Gambit?  I'll add more to this when I get the chance, just wanted to put something up on it.

My bad..i should say 2...Nf6.

These days the 3... Qd6 also seems to gain in popularity. Our national champion, GM Tiviakov still regularly uses the 3... Qa5 but especially the 3... Qd6 Scandinavian. Also, if you buy Melts´ book about the 3... Qd6 Scandinavian and read his convincing introduction and final note, you´ll start to wonder why you´ve never tried it before (Statistics support 3... Qd6 above other Scandinavians, but also rational thinking suggests that the queen is better placed on d6 anyway).

 

One of the reasons why I like the Scandinavian so much is that it´s a universal defense against 1. e4, and it immediately decides the opening. If, for example, you aim at a Dragon Sicilian and play 1... c5, you´ll also find yourself playing Alapins, Grand Prixs, Closed Sicilians, Morra Gambits, Rossolimos and maybe even Wing Gambits, and nearly all of the above anti-sicilians are decent enough for white to play. But after 1. e4 d5 white practically has no choice but to go into the Scandinavian with 2. exd5, since 2. e5? c5 gives black a good version of the Caro-Kann/French, and after 2. Nc3 dxe4 3. Nxe4 black has also saved a tempo compared to the French or Caro-Kann where black takes on e4 (or he can go back to the Scandinavian main lines with 3... Qd5?!)

ITS OK!

What about 1. e4 d5 2. e5?

I have read that this is a mistake but haven't really been able to capitalize on it when my opponents try it.

1. e4 d5 2. e5 is playable, but it is consider mistake because of 2. ... Bf5 planning e6 and c5 with a good position for Black.

kool

i agree with phobetor... try to counter the white !! it's nice to play !! make sure u able to control 'middle game'

thanks very much

leaves black very open not much of a defence .... very easy to fall foul as black

the pawn structure is like caro kann...this opening is solid

 

I like playing teh Scandinavian defense, Da5 looks better in all variants, although I would like to practice Dd6 , GM Tiviakov plays it nowadays...

Regards

 

Lima Peru

Yes i heard about The Scandinavian Defense (also known as Finnish-Russian War, 1939–40, war between Finland and the Soviet Union.) It was cool, too bad is't rarely played at the highest levels of chess.

One of the many annoying things that a 1.e4 player must be ready for.  Maybe this is why so many Gm's play 1.d4?  because play is pretty standard here, probably not as much theory to learn..but I still like 1.e4 as my most common first move.

not bad...;p

i hav tried Scandanavian and failed miserably, i played 2... a5

i asked my Captain and said dont play unless u r going against a weak opponent...

PS. can some1 plz tell me how u defend Giaco (how do u spell that??) Piano  i messed up when some1 played it against me...

Ok the scandanavian is by far my favourite opening so I will show you some of the variations I have come across.

 Look at the move list for all the variations. I tried to cover all the situations you will proberly see if decide to start playing the scandanavian. 

thanks Lord!!

i will try it and from what i see, it is a great improvement to 2... Qxd5

EDIT: found a minor mistake with ur move sequence... wat if white plays 3. c4 protecting his pawn...

I think there are some more mistakes in Lord's variations. Except for covering only a few and not-so-good white tries, you don't give the best moves for black.

- 1. e4 d5 2. d3? dxe4 3. Nc3 exd3 4. Bxd3 is perfectly playable for black and probably winning. He has an extra pawn for little compensation. I'd take black there any time.

- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Qxd5?! 4. Nc3 Qh5? doesn't look optimal either. The idea of 2... Nf6 is to keep the position dynamic and take on d5 with the knight.

- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 is perfectly fine and also played by most good players. It's considered the main line in the 2... Nf6 Scandinavian and considered best for white (or 3. c4 c6 4. d4 transposing to a Caro Kann).

- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 is very solid for black and I think considered better at the highest level (and seen more often) than 2... Nf6. Then after 3. Nc3 there's 3... Qa5, the old main line which is very solid (which by the way usually continues 4. Nf3/d4 c6, not 4... Nc6), there's 3... Qd6 which is relatively new and "Modern" and played by players like Rogers, Tiviakov, and I saw Nisipeanu play it once with success against Topalov. And then there's some original and less explored ideas like 3... Qe5+?! and 3... Qd8?!.