What to play against the Scandinavian Defense

I can always tickle the Queen with d4 pawn.

My LSB can go to g2.

Yeah, I don’t know why people have no love for the Knight.

Maybe, they didn’t think about the tickling d4 pawn. Or maybe they don’t like Fianchetto’s

I know some players hate Fianchetto’s

I think post #4 mentioned it, but thought Bg4 might be tricky, or at least unpleasant, to deal with (they don't really say)? I suppose most would feel the self pin, which is in place until White fianchetto's their King's Bishop and castles (presuming short castle here), might look unappealing. However, if you've got experience with how things tend to progress and it works for you, then perhaps it's a case of initial impressions can be deceiving.

How is wanting to develop the knight to the best place (f3) "no love" ????

Great Point @AngusByer

I suppose Bg4 can seem scary, but I have looked at those lines!

White has nothing to fear!

After Bg4, I like playing h3!

You can’t rush into a Fianchetto as White or you can get In trouble.

For Example:

It can be very unpleasant for White if they rush g3 to soon.

So the Key move is h3 to see what the Bishop does! When you think about it, The move h3 is a very normal looking move just hitting the Bishop asking the Bishop what it will do.

If Black trades the Bishop, White doesn’t need to play a Fianchetto any more because White has won the Bishop pair which gives them small edge such as below:

Black is down the Bishop pair now.

It’s a small victory for white.

If Black tries to maintain the pressure, Black can find themselves losing!

White unleashes a barrage of attacks on the Black position with multiple threats in the position!

- White is attacking the Black Queen!

- White is threatening f5 trapping Black Bishop!

- White is threatening Bg2 attacking/trapping the Rook on a8 + b7 pawn!

Qf6 is Blacks last ditch effort to swindle something.

BUT after Bg2 the Queen check comes and it’s not doing anything.

White side steps his King right into victory lane.

Now the Black position has to answer for the opening crimes they have committed!

Black has to pay the Pipe Piper and the cost will be steep.

Yeah, I think it’s not to bad.

The f3 square is such a lonely square.

The e2 square is definitely beloved as so many more pieces can huddle up there.

Those look like some fun lines. Yes, fianchettoing too quickly would be unwise, and as that sort of pops out in the initial look, I suspect most just abandon the line at that point and put it in the "too hard" basket. Your h3 idea of putting the question to the Bishop is a normal response, which, as you say, results in the Bishop pair for White if they exchange - and also solves White's King side Bishop's problems. If Black doesn't maintain the pin, and retreats the Bishop elsewhere, then they've lost a tempo but perhaps could claim they've created some weakness in White's King side pawn set up to target in the long run, particularly if White castles short. Maintaining the pressure by going to h5 looks risky for Black, although White can end up with a pretty airy King. I've been looking at the last position with the idea of Black being willing to give up their Queen side Rook with say d6, with the idea of following up with Bc5, but that's not working (White has d4 after all, and has Qe1 as well). White's position in the last example you give, at first glance, feels a bit over extended, which might put many off. But as you say, Black has some serious issues with regards to threats on losing material and their own lack of development means they look to be too slow to consider sacrificing (things like giving up the Queen side Rook aren't justified as their own pieces are too far from the action to pounce in any way).
I like it, and while I don't face the Scandinavian very often (and when I did I was generally playing a Nf3, Be2, d3 type set up rather than the main line), this looks like it could lead to some fun games. Cheers.

I just want to show another interesting way for White to play.

I prefer the Fianchetto lines a little more, but I have seen people try other lines such as below:

The above line is a possible line as well.

White often Castles Queen side.

but what would be a good defense for white?

you can try an Englund reverse

I'm a Center Counter Defense player also... I think what you posted totally went past people here... lol. If I'm not mistaken that plan... 7.Ne5 followed by a kingside pawn roller was created by Dreev ... works with some 3...Qd6 lines.. But I don't think it works with the Mieses var 3...Qa5 Does it? (

thoughts ?

Cool thread. I feel lucky because we get an NM linking us awesome games, and also saying exactly what I thought. Qe5+ which is considered awful is surprisingly OK. It can get really sharp and weird whichever way you go!

and therefore I avoid it and play Nd2, and then no theory, just play chess and try to win time on the Queen and allow a comfortable position but nothing special for White.