Could the Scandinavian Defense accurately be considered a gambit
Sort:
I was just randomly thinking to myself Could the Scandinavian Defense be considered a gambit
Yes. Black is offering a pawn for positional considerations. White does not have to accept for good or bad. But it is more of an exchange in the sense that black immediately recovers the pawn if white accepts.
No. You recapture the pawn immediately.
May 25, 2023
0
#5
if you asking about the nf6 lines. You can make the argument since technically, white can try hold on to the pawn via c4 ,its just well understood to be bad if white doesnt give it back soon.
IT at best immediately equalizes for white.
May 25, 2023
0
#6
The 2. ... Qxd5 lines of the Scandinavian are basically a way of transposing into a Caro-Kann type formation, giving up a bit of time (with the Queen) in order to ensure that Black gets the position he wants (no Advance Variation, no Panov-Botvinnik, no Two Knights, no Tal variation, etc).
So:
The 2. ... Nf6 line is a gambit (which White should decline), and the 2. ... Qxd5 line is a Caro-Kann.