Is 1.e4 d5 an "ok" opening

Airut, 11. h5 ... and the black bishop is trapped! ;]

Nevermind, I didn't realize there was knight to protect it! ;]

GG!

Good for blitz and lower levels, but not seen at the very top for good reasons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l5EVd3d4Wk

^ Quite entertaining lecture on the portugese variation by one of my countrymen, and he's currently writing a book on the scandinavian.

Do you know if he is writing a book in the Portuguese Variation or in all the Scandinavian Complex?

Anand tried to play d5 against Kasparov and lost.

This thread is 5 years old.  I suspect the Theory has changed since then.

Nimzowitsch compared 2.Qxd5 to blowing ones nose in the middle of a race- wastes time. It is possible though that a lot of theory in the Scandinavian was not explored in the 1920's. Bronstein used it quite effectively and won a famous game against Tal with 2. Nf6 variation instead of Qxd5. Its can be a good surprise weapon as you can see some quite unique imbalanced positions with opposite side castling. All good fun.

Scandinavian Defense is a good opening for both sides, but if you don't like playing it then you can try the Blackmar Diemer Gambit (EC0 D00)...

For amateur players to choose their opening repertoire based on GM (or super GM) practice makes no sense. At the highest level, only a handful of openings are trusted on a regular basis. For the rest of us, anything reasonably sound will do, and the Scandinavian fits that category. I've been playing the Qd8 line and find that White seldom does anything dangerous with the tempo, and often gives it back. The opening is very solid and can encourage White to overextend.

This thread is nearly 6 years old.

If you want the "skinny" on this opening, ask former USCF CC Champion @Ponz111.  It was his workhorse opening from the black side when he won the CCC.  He's on the site.

And the massive opening BS about "Master Fashion" continues.  Plenty of good books out there, too.  Maybe try one ?

ONWARD...

2... Qxd5 3. Nc3 gains time on the queen.

For that particular game Anand did not lose because of the opening. Actually Anand had the better game in the opening with the black pieces.

Thats the obvious play and I am not saying there is anything wrong with it.  So why does Black do it?  To knock out the e4 pawn's grip and free up his own game.

Just want to point out to the posters at the beginning of the thread that in the Qxd5 lines of the Scandinavian black is only "losing" the tempo he gained when capturing on d5.  Qxd5 is a developing recapture (think of Smirnov's "to take is a mistake" guideline--exd5 helps black develop a piece for free).  Nc3 simply regains that lost tempo for white.  The issue is where to put the queen.  I play the Scandinavian as black from time to time, but I don't like any of the options for where to put the queen, so I play something besides Qxd5 on move 2.

Join us for the inside story about the tricky Scandinavian: 3...Qd6 Variation, aka, Gubinsky-Melts Variation at http://www.chess.com/groups/view/scandinavian-defense-3qd6-variation

IMHO, it is a mistake for ordinary players to chose their opening repertoire based simply on the performance of super GMs with those openings, or on "theory". We almost never get those theoretical positions (and in any case, how many of us are competent to reliably convert a += edge?)

Instead, why not go with openings that we enjoy playing? I have played the Scandinavian for years. Although i sometimes get boringly crushed, more often I get open, attacking positions which are fun to play and sometimes make me feel like Tal!