How to play the Classical Scandinavian Defense.

The Classical Scandinavian Defense begins after 1. e4 d5

This is a defense, meaning it's for black. The mainline will start after we recapture with our queen. After Qxd5 they play Nc3 to kick our queen. Move it to a5. After d4 or Nf3, these are interchangeable, you will play c6, this creates an escape square for our queen incase it falls under attack.

If they play something like Bd2, this is the purpose of c6, we can drop the queen back to c7.

If they instead play Nf3 we play Nf6. We will bring the bishop to g4 also.

We will play e6 after bringing the bishop out. If they play h3 to kick the bishop bring it to h5. Bg5 is a blunder if they play it due to Bxf3 attacking the queen and their bishop.

If none of those are played, instead the best move(or something else), Re1, play Nbd7, just standard development. We develop the bishop to d6 and castle either way. Note that castling queenside is more aggressive. If you do that push your kingside pawns to attack.

If they don't take our d-pawn at the beginning, by playing something like e5, we play Bf5. We will then play e6, followed by c5.

If instead they play Nc3, this is called the closed Scandinavian, we push d5 and follow with e5.

They have one more trick, the Tennison Gambit, with Nf3. We take their pawn and after Ng5 we give it back by playing e5. If they take play Nc3.

That's the Scandinavian Classical Variation. If you would like to learn the Modern Variation check my blog here. Good luck with this defense and bye.

Why do Swedish ships have barcodes on them? So when they dock they could Scandinavian(sorry)