I tend to use the Scandinavian in live chess (e4 d5) because some people (especially around my rating, 1300's) haven't met it and take a while thinking about how to play against it. Now that's not to say that I know what to do with it, but I find that I have a basic idea. I tend to come up against the standard 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 to which I like to reply 3....Qd6 and then, I've found that I like to play 4....Bd7 which prevents (given it already hasn't occured) Nb5 which further kicks the Queen.

I don't play this opening over the board because I don't know any of the theory and because the opponent has time to think things through, but I like the way it gives rise to an interesting, asymmetric game. Here's a few examples from my recent live games, both were 10|0 blitz games;

Hope you enjoy the games, please comment

Thanks for showing your game of the Scandinavian

well done especially under time pressure...good

Nicely played. I think it's a good idea to use less common openings in short, fast games, as you said, it takes more time for your opponent to figure out what to play.

I like how you played the scandinavian! I have tryed playing scandavian in games but after Nc3 i always play the queen back to d8 which is completely the wrong move in terms of the opening as it gives white tempo in development!

I tried playing d8 after Nc3 but I just find that, if the Queen is already out, might as well find her a good square where she doesn't block the path of many things. Putting her back to d8, as you said, loses a tempo to White. Qd6 can be countered with Nb5 but then White is starting to make to many moves with the Knight...

First game,

22. Ne1, wins

 Qd8 is the 2nd best move after Nc3. Best is Qa5. Both are main lines for black.

The one reason i don't like Qa5 if because white can play a3 and b4 and I'm worried that my queen will be in a problematic situation? However, I probably need to read up on it more. As openings can be a weakness of mine!

no they can't play b4, as i play e6 beforehand!

Interesting.  I've always felt that the Scandinavian was a horrible defense but I'm not at a good level to judge it.  I will say that everyone around my rating who plays it tends to lose because the queen gets chased around.  

At my level (wich is pretty low) I usually win against people that play the center counter defence. Allthough it is hard to tell if this is because weaker players tend to learn such openings that need less theory or if it is because the scandinavian is slightly weaker opening then more standard ones. I think the general opinion might be something like "scandinavian can be good as a suprise weapon but you risk alot by trying it"

In the second game you missed 35...Rh2#

So I did! Thanks Sojkicz!

Thank you all for your comments, I agree with AtahanT, the Scandinavian works well as a surprise weapon but it is risky as the Queen can be chaced around, however, the Qd8 and Qa5 seem to posses less risk of this happening than the Qd6 which I favour. Still, the element of surprise can be a great weapon!

mijovic91

Dd6 for a third move for black isnt typical for scandinavian defence...

http://blog.chess.com/mschosting/scandinavian-disaster

A video I made on a game I played

If played correctly the Queen doesn't get chased so much if at all.  The problem when lower rated play use it is they like it because they want to attack with the Queen, which causes it to bounce around while White just keeps developing.  In the hands of a Black player who likes semi-open positions without impeding pawns, like the e6 in the French or c6 in the Caro, it offers a good weapon for Black against 1.e4.

It is not very often used in Grandmaster play, but when played by someone who has known the opening well, Black can easily hold his/her own and there isn't much risk. But I find that a lot of people that play it around 1400 level waste a bit much time.

Here is the Scandinavian defense and I play 2...Nd7 instead of Qxd5 and it was an interesting game.

In the second game, 17...h5 wins quickly.