Scandinavian against 1e4.
Against 1d4, c5 comes to mind...
london for white, but what for black???
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Possibly helpful:
First Steps The Scandinavian
https://www.everymanchess.com/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/148/
My First Chess Opening Repertoire for Black
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9050.pdf
First Steps 1 e4 e5
https://www.everymanchess.com/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/149/
Starting Out: Open Games by GM Glenn Flear (2010)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232452/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen134.pdf
Starting Out: Ruy Lopez by John Shaw (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627024240/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen53.pdf
Playing 1.e4 e5 - A Classical Repertoire by Nikolaos Ntirlis (2016)
http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1e4e5-excerpt.pdf
The Queen's Gambit Declined Move by Move
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7743.pdf
Playing 1.d4 d5 - A Classical Repertoire by Nikolaos Ntirlis
https://www.qualitychess.co.uk/ebooks/Playing1d4d5-excerpt.pdf
[COMMENT DELETED]
Jan 27, 2018
0
#5
Ziggy_Zugzwang wrote:
Scandinavian against 1e4.
I'd suggest rather Philidor, simple and solid. 
Play 1...d6 Against Everything....
https://www.amazon.com/Play-Against-Everything-Ready-use/dp/9056917447/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517094955&sr=1-1&keywords=play+1...d6+against+everything
A Universal Weapon 1.d4 d6...
https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Weapon-1-D4-D6/dp/9548782790/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517095013&sr=1-1&keywords=a+universal+weapon+1.d4+d6
The Philidor Files...
https://www.amazon.com/Philidor-Files-Detailed-Coverage-Everyman/dp/1857444361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517095133&sr=1-1&keywords=the+philidor+files
A Cunning Chess Opening for Black...
https://www.amazon.com/Cunning-Chess-Opening-Black-Opponent/dp/9056915932/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517095091&sr=1-1&keywords=sergey+kasparov
Jan 27, 2018
0
#7
DeirdreSkye wrote:
It has alot of theory but you can easily side step it avoiding the critical lines and understanding of the pawn structure is more important.
thankyou, but the part about the pawn structure confuses me. i still am unsure what this means when people talk about the pawn structure. could you please explain this a little.
thanks for your advice.
Jan 27, 2018
0
#8
thank you DeirdreSkye
that has helped. it sounds like something advanced. usually at my level my opponents just go for it, what you wrote sounds like something for higher play. i would like to learn more about it though as it sounds quite intricate.
thanks again for the advice. i will give the french a go.
all the best
Jan 27, 2018
0
#10
The Caro-Kann and Classical Slav are the top openings that come to mind if you want reliable openings that aim for similar pawn structures. The Rubinstein French is not so bad if you are looking for something simple. If you are looking for speculative openings that are a bit less sound, you could consider the Scandinavian and Baltic.
Jan 27, 2018
0
#11
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
The Caro-Kann and Classical Slav are the top openings that come to mind if you want reliable openings that aim for similar pawn structures. The Rubinstein French is not so bad if you are looking for something simple. If you are looking for speculative openings that are a bit less sound, you could consider the Scandinavian and Baltic.
Scandinavian is perfectly sound.
I would not consider it a top-tier opening with the likes of 1...e5, Sicilian, French, or Caro-Kann, and I don't think many masters would disagree. Even some of the top specialists like Tiviakov have doubts about its ultimate soundness. Black is walking a tightrope in some critical lines. 3...Qd8 seems to be the safest version at the moment.
Jan 27, 2018
0
#12
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
The Caro-Kann and Classical Slav are the top openings that come to mind if you want reliable openings that aim for similar pawn structures. The Rubinstein French is not so bad if you are looking for something simple. If you are looking for speculative openings that are a bit less sound, you could consider the Scandinavian and Baltic.
Scandinavian is perfectly sound.
I would not consider it a top-tier opening with the likes of 1...e5, Sicilian, French, or Caro-Kann, and I don't think many masters would disagree. Even some of the top specialists like Tiviakov have doubts about its ultimate soundness. Black is walking a tightrope in some critical lines. 3...Qd8 seems to be the safest version at the moment.
Tiviakov had it's doubts because of a line in which Kotronias found a way for Black to equalise.Right now the theoretical status is that Black equalises in Scandinavian.
I thought there was also a problem with Kotronias's line as well. To be honest, I haven't been following it carefully from either side, so I'd have to check the hearsay for myself. My point is that this is walking a tightrope when the evaluation is hinging on single lines like this. I can play the Najdorf and slide between multiple viable options without feeling I'm a fixed target for opening preparation. The Scandinavian has useful surprise value, but I wouldn't make it my main weapon. If you like these structures, it's a good idea to study the Caro-Kann for a long-term solution.
"... it is normal for White to gain a slight advantage, but only a slight advantage. Often Black will set up a solid position which is hard to breach, while being able to calmly complete development. The [Scandinavian] defense is often used by grandmasters on an occasional basis, as it is most effective when White is not prepared with a well considered plan. Australia's Ian Rogers is willing to use the defense regularly though. ..." - GM Nick de Firmian (2007)
[COMMENT DELETED]
No aggressive play? Old Steinitz or Orthodox QGD Tartakover.
Jan 28, 2018
0
#16
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
DeirdreSkye wrote:
MetalRatel wrote:
The Caro-Kann and Classical Slav are the top openings that come to mind if you want reliable openings that aim for similar pawn structures. The Rubinstein French is not so bad if you are looking for something simple. If you are looking for speculative openings that are a bit less sound, you could consider the Scandinavian and Baltic.
Scandinavian is perfectly sound.
I would not consider it a top-tier opening with the likes of 1...e5, Sicilian, French, or Caro-Kann, and I don't think many masters would disagree. Even some of the top specialists like Tiviakov have doubts about its ultimate soundness. Black is walking a tightrope in some critical lines. 3...Qd8 seems to be the safest version at the moment.
Tiviakov had it's doubts because of a line in which Kotronias found a way for Black to equalise.Right now the theoretical status is that Black equalises in Scandinavian.
I thought there was also a problem with Kotronias's line as well. To be honest, I haven't been following it carefully from either side, so I'd have to check the hearsay for myself. My point is that this is walking a tightrope when the evaluation is hinging on single lines like this. I can play the Najdorf and slide between multiple viable options without feeling I'm a fixed target for opening preparation. The Scandinavian has useful surprise value, but I wouldn't make it my main weapon. If you like these structures, it's a good idea to study the Caro-Kann for a long-term solution.
Viktor Laznicka has used Scandinavian .He has an amazing 13.5/18(75%) with it against players rated 2422-2742(he won Michael Adams in FIDE World Cup 2015).You will find it hard to find such results with people that use Sicilian lines or other openings as their surprise weapon.
If Scandinavian can be so effective main wepaon in such high level , it can certainly be a main opening in lower levels.The problem is that the lower the level the less the players are depending on their understanding and the more they look for "good openings".That is what eventually seriously backfires and doesn't let them improve.Harikrishna said he seriously studied openings when he was 2600 because "at that level people can beat you with a slight edge in the opening".Player of lower levels worry too much for equalising or getting a slight edge in the opening when it is absolutely certain that neither of the 2 is important.Getting a playable position is all that you need and it is much better to spend the many wasted hours of opening study in endgame and middlegame.
Scandinavian might indeed be a problematic opening for Harikrishna's level but it is more than fine for everyone else.Pavel Blatny , Nona Gaprindashvili and Anthony Miles played Owen's defense with excellent results.
Laznicka has about four times as many Caro-Kann games as Black compared to the Scandinavian in the databases, so I think it is more of a surprise weapon. This kind of supports my point. Many amateurs make the mistake of specializing too early and they limit the variety of middlegames they play. This limits their understanding of the game and their ability to play these offbeat openings effectively.
DeirdreSkye wrote:
... Viktor Laznicka has used Scandinavian . ...
If Scandinavian can be so effective main wepaon in such high level , it can ...
"Viktor Laznicka ... MOST PLAYED OPENINGS ... With the Black pieces: Sicilian ... Slav ... Caro-Kann ... Sicilian Taimanov ... Queen's Pawn Game ... Queen's Gambit Declined ..."
http://www.chessgames.com/player/viktor_laznicka.html
DeirdreSkye wrote: "... You will find it hard to find such results with people that use Sicilian lines or other openings as their surprise weapon. ..."
The January 2018 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 2740 October games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1...c5, 1...e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, some of the list entries are: 175 Retis, 121 King's Indians, 106 Caro-Kanns, 93 Slavs, 89 Nimzo-Indians, 86 declined Queen's Gambits, 65 1...Nf6 Englishes, 63 Najdorf Sicilians, 57 1...e5 Englishes, 55 Guioco Pianos, 53 1...c5 Englishes, 53 Kan Sicilians, 51 Queen's Indians, 47 accepted Queen's Gambits, 47 Catalans, and 45 Berlin Lopezes.
DeirdreSkye wrote: "... Viktor Laznicka ... won Michael Adams in FIDE World Cup 2015 ..."
Looking at chessgames for other Scandinavian Laznicka victories, I found:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1862935
Bundesliga 2016/17
White: Patrick Zelbel (rated 199 points below Laznicka)
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1869736
2016ch-CZE Blitz
White : Martin Petr (rated 161 points below Laznicka)
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1848684
Bundesliga 2016/17
White: Emilio Moreno Tejera (rated 207 points below Laznicka
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1785917
2015 European Individual Championship
White: Vladislav Kovalev (rated 139 points below Laznicka)
Jan 28, 2018
0
#20
With the exception of the Kovalev game, most of these look like sidelines where White did not have any special preparation. In Kovalev's game, 8.Bf4! is an improvement suggested by Shaw in his recent repertoire book where White has some interesting pawn sacrifices that would be difficult to find over the board without preparation. I'll admit that Black often has great chances if White is not prepared, but this comes back to the point about why I think it should be used primarily as a surprise weapon. Shereshevsky discusses this aspect of opening preparation in The Soviet Chess Conveyor in his chapter on "One-Off Openings".
hello,
i am working on my london opening but for black i am still stumped. i have no idea of what to do. i would like something similar to the london system. something that wouldnt require a lot of knowledge about variations. something with basic ideas.
i have tried learning the sicilian and i dont like it.
what is good that requires no aggressive play?
any advice would be great thanks