does the Scandinavian actually work??

you talking about me? 😭😭😭

So, to answer your initial question, the Scandinavian is playable, but there are definitely more practical and sound options against e4

Totally agree. It comes in many forms and is playable...trust me. I play it online in blitz and OTB as well.

Cornfed,

I see you are playing the 3...Qa5 Scandinavian. I have the book The Scandinavian Defense for Club Players. It uses 3...Qa5. It also covers when white plays 3 Nf3, 3 d4, 2 e5, 2 d4, 2 Nc3. I've played games using that book's repertoire. It's a good book that actually teaches.

However, more recently I've been playing the Caro Kann using the repertoire from the book Keep It Simple for Black. I like that this book has an entire black repertoire, almost no matter what white opens up with, and I'm impressed by the amount of instruction in it.

What is it about the Scandinavian that has you playing it instead of the 'better' Caro Kann? I used to play the Caro Kann but did not like playing against the Advance. I think this is why many Caro Kann players move on to the Scandinavian.

However, this book that has the Caro Kann in it is so well done by the author, and because it's an entire repertoire (QGD, repertoires against all of white various first moves and pet systems) for black in one book, I am back to the Caro Kann. But still not certain as to which defense I would rather play.

The Scandinavian seems more open to me, and that is why I was using the Tarrasch Defense against the QG when I was playing the Scandinavian, they seem to go along well together in amount of looseness and both are considered second tier these days (so opponents aren't quite as booked up)

I'm currently playing 3...Nf6 (instead of ...c5) in the QGD because that is what the book with the Caro Kann is using against 1 d4. Both top tier defenses and both very well explained, but opponents are better prepared plus both are slower paced defenses that can require more defensive patience.

Sorry for the long winded post, I tend to do that when explaining myself.

Bottom line: You are a strong player. Why do you play the Scandinavian and not the 'better' Caro Kann?

I'll keep this opening in mind then.

Short answer first...because I've been playing tournament chess for about 40 yrs (only able to reach 2160 or so OTB USCF) and know that variety is the spice of life...makes for a more well rounded chess player too.

The Caro was my first love against 1.e4 so I'm glad you mention that! I opted mainly for the 'Karpov' line with an early ...Nbd7, but played lots of stuff. Even against 1.e4 a very brief phase of 1...e5, lots of different Sicilians (at my peak, I was playing the Sveshnikov)...a French every now and then. But mainly the Caro and Scandi. TWO different eras with the Scandi. I was tired of trying the French and looked about many years in my files and saw where I NEVER lost an OTB game with some wild Scandi's and thought I would give it a go again.

As far as 'why' the Scandi: just for fun really. You can play anything in blitz and have fun and retain plenty of chances to win. OTB is more serious though so I will play different Scandi's there (and only VERY recently started with the ...Qa5 lines - don't have the full grasp of it yet ) but frankly, I spent the last few years where I play the gambit lines: 1.e4 d5, 2.ed Nf6 and 3...Bg4. Lots of fun stuff there for both online and OTB.

Cornfed,

I did play Smerdon's Scandinavian book's repertoire for a while but SF indicates the 3...Bg4 line is busted, that scared me away. Not that a club opponent in otb would likely be aware of it, but still...

If you decide to continue playing 3...Qa5 you might want to consider the book I mentioned --- The Scandinavian for Club Players. It's actually a really good book.

My presumption is that you are not a 'weaker engine' and should not worry about what another engine thinks.

People play and people make all sorts of errors. That's why one can play about anything without worrying what the 'engines' think.

I've got most all the books on the Scandi and a few chessable courses...but do not think I've seen the one you mention.

Most have played Scandinavian Defense, but how many have played Scandinavian Gambit?

I definitely have played played it and is one of my favorite lines of the Scandinavian.

The Scandinavian Gambit plays like this:

The most common line is dxc6, which leads to Nxc6 in a good game. It is mainly a pawn trade that is created by white not developing their knight on the second move to defend the attacked pawn.

Which line is that, out of curiosity?

@UnsteppableChess

I'll play it against anyone. Creativity is important. Here is a gamed I play here a few weeks ago. It's against a pretty good player and I intentionally play a 'suspect' move as early as move 3. It's the kind of fun one can have if you play it with the right mindset.

"Busted" is a word often misunderstood...if only because humans do not play against engines.

I have that book and I believe the line is called the "Correspondence Refutation". This because "Correspondence" chess is nothing more than people playing slow and using engines. 4.f3 Bf5, 5.g4....which I think just gives White too much territory for nothing.

Here is my 'pet line'. Is it good? It's no worse than anything else and your opponent will not be able to make use of the 50 ply of theory he's memorized.

More fun with the Scandi:

I never said it was 'fine'...just fun, if you are of a mind to have fun. I play to challenge myself and try to have fun in the process. Oh, and one Magnus Carlsen has play the Scandi in tournaments a few times. If he thought there was a "bust"...I rather think he would not have.

1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 3 d4 Bg4. Book has typically been 4 f3 Bf5 and humans have for a long time considered it somewhat suspect for black but tricky enough to often work anyway. SF thinks it's just plain bad for black but like Cornfed said we ain't machines. It still kinda run me off though, that along with I wasn't doing all that well with 2...Nf6 anyway.

Cornfed,

When I was playing Smerdon's repertoire and saw what he said about the line, plus then saw what SF thought about it, I actually gave 4...Bd7 a try in a game or two. I think I lost each game but maybe had a draw and a loss, don't clearly recall. I do remember I didn't get anything going for my pawn loss. That is when I moved on.

In the 2...Qxd5 I played 3...Qd6 a bunch of times but many players seem to know about Shirov's 7 f4 and I always got bad games against it. So I moved on. Ha. I played 3...Qd8 quite a bit but everyone and their uncles were putting pressure on me, so I moved on, again. Having tried all the various Scandinavians I like 3...Qa5 the best, especially since there is a very good book on it, the one I named earlier.

If it wasn't for the Keep It Simple for Black that is so well written for club players plus has black's entire repertoire in the one book I would be playing 3...Qa5.

Glad to see you like 3....Qa5. The Scandi seems to have something for everyone of every temperament. While I've been playing that as well, I still throw in an occasional 'gambit' line or two depending on my temperament. I'm no Magnus nor Nakamura (who I think has played 3...Qd6 mostly) but one doesn't have to be...just have to approach whatever line chosen with the right mindset.

Most anything is 'workable' if you understand the ideas and have the right mindset. One might 'follow' IM John Bartholomew on chess.com who plays it...a LOT.