how solid is the scandi?

Looking for an opening against e4 that doesn't have much theory to learn. It seems to me that in the scandi there aren't many positions, and white's choices are not that broad as in other openings.

Am I right in assuming that the scandi is easy to prepare?

Also, is it solid? I'm not looking for tactics (tactics in the opening = memorization), I'm looking for something I could potentially play against a stronger player.

I hate playing against it. But mainly because it tends to boring games, IMO.

I guess it's pretty solid, it's endured for 200 years.

I also hate playing against it. If you need a draw with Black in the last round, the Scandi's your opening! But it is perfectly reasonable.

Its fun and pretty easy to learn etc. I like it because generally all of the pieces stay on the board so the middlegame can be pretty complicated.

The problem seems to be that white always has a small advantage

In a recent turney I had 3 games. 2 of them were scandinavian. I got lucky and won with white AND black lol

first 2 comments were hate against the scandi eheh, good :)

I saw the video on youtube by Danny, and I just didn't like the positions in there...but I'm considering giving it a shot with the book by Bauer.

Important Question : Which Scandi?

I'm considering it because of its structural similarity with the Caro but with less familiarity by the masses

And I'm ok with the trying to out-bore each other part. Bring on the long drawn out bore fest! Yeeha!

Wow, really?

Ive had 158 1 e4 d6, and 121 1 e4 c6 in online.

I'm speaking of otb tournaments. Isn't it far less popular than the caro kann?

I'm not a regular otb player, but on and off for 30 years or so, I cant remember a single CK game otb, except for blitz and skittles.

By my count, I've met the Caro 5 times OTB, and the Scandi twice (although both from the same player)

Oh wait, I lie!

I remember playing the Hillbilly Attack once..... I lost :(

the caro kann is popular in my area (London UK), I think I saw more 1...c6 than 1..e5 !

the scandinavian is supposed to be giving similar positions, while avoiding the sharp theory with the advance and the Panov.

Nothing wrong with the Scandi. I would recommend trying it out!

So, are you referring to 3...Qa5 or 3...Qd6? It makes a difference...

I've even seen Qc6

Sadly, only once :)

I'm not very good theoretically, but here is my opinion:

In 3.. Qa5 scandinavian, black can castle either side, often plays c6-e6 and gets a caro-kann, which in GM play is hard to play for win, but is perfectly fine for normal players. However, black is slightly down in development (He has to play Qd6-d5-a5-c7 opposed to a normal caro-kann with Qd7-c7). If white can't play d4-d5, however, it's not that bad.

In 3.. Qd6 lines, black can easily play for the win. There is alot of plans like a6-b5 and Bb7, or just Bg4, putting pressure on the d4 pawn. He will make a kingside fianchetto, and castle kingside. From my games white has a slight pressure, but after few inaccuaries (believe me, they actually not uncommon in U2000 games), black has excellent chances. However, every time I (as black) played an inaccuary, white got some nasty pressure. So it's not for a fast draw.

Yeah well Qd8 is depressing for Black. 

I started tourney play last year. I think I have 18 uscf games under my belt (not many, I know)

I dont think ive seen a caro yet. Ive seen maybe 3 scandis