What do you call this opening?

1.e4 d5 2.d4 e6 ? The first 3 moves are the Scandinavian Defence Declined, but 2...e6 makes it a French Defence by transposition. This position is in a thematic tournament (another site) and is labeled as Scandinavian Defence Declined. I believe it should be called a French Defence. So what is it?

Both

According to the current position, I say : French Defence.     

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Defence

I agree Lauri, as the position offered after 2...,e6 is the French Defence.

Ok, here's my "counter question" :

?1xh8#

Do make a legal position on board.     

Ziggyblitz, The name "Scandinavian Defence Declined" is definitely wrong.  It should be termed Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Declined.  The transposition makes it a French indeed.

So we have,

1.e4 d5 (Scandinavian Defence)

2.d4 (Blackmar Damier Gambit )

2..,e6 (French Defence).

That seems about right. Thanks ghostofmarcozy.

You are welcome, Ziggyblitz.

I hope it's "Wabbit Season" in Australia right now.

Warm regards from the ghostofmarcozy. 

By the way, have you ever met Kasparov the friendly ghost?

#material

Ghostofmarcozy:- No but I have played Kacparov (Kacper) the friendly IM.

I call it Chicken Soup

That'd be about right Cornbeefhashvili.

In the sequence 1 e4 d5 2 d4 e6, maybe both players simply have an aversion to capturing.  I wouldn't call it chicken soup until after 3 Be3 which is the Alapin-Diemer Gambit.  If Black declines to capture on e4, then we have a real case of poultry syndrome.

#useyournoodle

The French by transposition.

There's no such thing as "The Scandinavian Defense Declined"

After 1.e4 d5, it's a Scandinavian Defense

After 2.d4, it's a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

Black declines the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit via 2...e6, and it's a direct transposition to the French Defense

At this point, it's simply put, a French Defense.  Doesn't matter how you got there, it's still a French, no matter how you look at it.

How you get to an opening doesn't mean a lick of anything.  It's the end product.

.

I agree ThrilerFan but when I pointed this out to the TD on the other site he was unimpressed, saying "I know my openings". His incorrect naming hasn't stopped players joining his tournament.

I did a google search on Scandinavian Defence Declined and found 2.e5, is regarded by some to fit the description.

You have to wonder how do authors name openings in their openings index when there are so many transpositions? From what you say ThrillerFan it must be named by the end product.

There's a name for the line with 2.e5?!, which is extremely dubious because Black gets a Caro-Kann up a complete tempo.

That's said, the proper name is clearly not the "Scandinavian Defense Declined" because you can't decline a defense.  You decline something that is offered to you, which in chess, they are specifically known as Gambits.  The Queen's Gambit Declined, King's Gambit Declined, etc.  There is no "Scandinavian Declined", or "Sicilian Declined", or "French Declined", etc.

Therefore, after 1.e4 d5 2.d4, you didn't "Decline" the Scandinavian, you "Transposed" to a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit.  If Black then plays 2...e6, Black may have declined the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, but it's still not called the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit delined, it's simply called the French Defense.

So yes, like you said, it's ultimately the end product that determines the opening, not the order of how you got there.

Sort of like how "Fool's Mate" is named for the fact that it ends in mate.

#Qh4#

Well maybe it is not that simple. I consulted Game Explorer in a current game in a Old Indian theme tournament. After nine moves there are seven games which are describe by four different names...Old Indian...Caro Kann...English...and Rats Defence. Hmmm?

You want an opening with transpositions?

Check out how many ways there are to reach this position:

To quote Grandmaster Roman Dzindzichashvili... " Openings are schizophrenic"