The Scandinavian Haters Group

I also hate the Scandinavian, yet I love to hate it. I love to see it played against me and I love to crush it. If I were to play it, I would play the 2.Nf6 line. I don't respect the lines where the queen dances around the board, yet somehow black has a survivable position but I wouldn't want to be on the black side of it.

mhtraylor-

No, actually, because I think it leads to an overall poor position. The queen being chased around is only a slight redemption for the poor opening for both sides.

Offtherook-

I completely agree. I've heard of the Blackmar-Diemer gambit and since I was planning on doing a short study on gambits anyway, perhaps I'll look into it. Thanks for your input.

AfafBouardi-

So would I! Why don't you look into it?

ManicDragon-

Okay, no problem. If ever I play a game against you, I'll make sure to use the St. George Defense. After all, that's what works against dragons, right?

The Grobe-

Ahahahahahaha, well sorry for the letdown!

Maradonna-

Go for it! But don't go too far or Erik will get worried we're starting chess gangs or something...

Tigergutt-

Trying to stand up for your Scandinavian brothers, Mr. Norway? It won't work. Yes, I really don't like the Scandinavian Opening and I'm pretty sure that will not change.

Gbidari-

Eh, I just can't somehow love it while I'm hating it. There's just something inside me that crumples when I see someone play d5 to my e4.

Thanks for everyone's feedback!! Two pages of topics... We made it to the hot topics page!

-Leo

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Please allow my humble submission to this tribunal wherein posits the Scandinavian is pilloried as being: "boring?!; lousy?; creating havoc; poor?!; ruinous; & anti Queen".

One should not discriminate, the Scandinavian is as 'FUN' when you are black and one should 'Jump for Joy' to play it.

I put before you the following:-

Exhibit A) Over the board game in a FIDE rated tournament

Exhibit B) Chess.com turn-based tournament game

Exhibit C) Blitz game

Exhibit D) Live-Chess 'Rapid-play' game

These interesting and exhilarating exhibits prove conclusively to all, that this 'Scandinavian Opening Haters' group is: ill-conceived = irrational; based on faulty and subjective premises = illogical; deluded to the subtleties and intricacies of the opening = delusional; whose scrounging members as such should, for the sake all society, be confined to play checkers in an appropriate psychiatric institution.

Yours Honors, Here my case rest.

Thank you.

LONG MAY THE E4-D5 HAVOC REIGN!

Vuduchile-

Forgive me, but I was not moved by your speech in the least.

First of all, this is not a courtroom and you are not the prosecution furiously entreating the judge to lock up the "scrounging members" of a gang. If this was a courtroom, you would be the defense, defending your beloved opening.

Second, I could find and pull out of MY top hat at least four games in which black, using the Scandinavian, was soundly beaten 'round the board in "interesting and exhilarating exhibits."

Third, if you have a problem with this group, you should report it, or, if you can find no reason to condemn it other than it is composed of members who have strong negative feelings about a particular chess opening, then at least do not attack it using a lot of emotionally charged adjectives. We agree to disagree.

-Leo

i dont understand your comment. standing up for my scandinavian brothers? read my post again and you will see i wrote lines AGAINST the scandinavian. scandinavian against white players who actually knows what he is doing is a very unpleasant experience and a reason i dont play it. of course if you refuse to check if there is some lines you like to play against it then i cant convince you:) i play Nf3 and d4 and c4 instead of Nc3 and others play the black diemar gambit and stuff like that and i enjoy my games while my scandinavian opponents are grumpy because i did not play 3.Nc3 so they are out of theory while im just getting started and do you also think all players from england play the english opening?

it is not my favorite opening, but I can't say I hate  it.  

Leo, the Scandinavian Hater :) Sir, You are correct.

All that you have offered is supposition "pull out of MY top hat at least four games" a lot of hot air and your crumpling gut as evidence that would be dismissed without a wasteful scoff in a court room.

This is a debate,  Leo, which you invited. And all of the substance presented so far, a recent GM game and the four others submitted, demonstrate an opposite opinion to your assertion of the Scandinavian. It is infact anything thing but 'boring', or 'uninteresting' or 'poor'; it does however 'creat havoc'.

I hereby offer my able assistant pictured below to help to elucidate you to this fact.

P.S. Dont sweat the small stuff

Is there any way on Earth to distinguish between reportable problems and intellectual disagreements ? Apparently not.

 That was an interesting game. 3 ...Qd6 seems to be a popular move recently. I don't like playing against the Scandanavian, but I'm not committed enough to join a group.

I think that you love the Scandinavian, that will be it.

Vuduchile-

Thank you, sir. You have now insulted me and my crumpling gut several times. Perhaps at thirteen my skills at presenting substansive evidence are unhoned, but I'm not sure the judge would tolerate your inappropriate attacks on the opposition, either. After considering the vacant look in your assistant's eyes, I have, indeed come to the conclusion that debating with you would be a waste of both my time and yours. I see no need to exchange insults. Also, after looking at your profile, it quickly became clear that you are a big fan of the Scandinavian. I am not. I'm sure we could banter back and forth about the strong and weak points of this opening until we are both red in the emoticon's ugly face, but I am not so inclined.

Atos-

I'm not sure I understand... Could you phrase that differently, please?

Offtherook-

Once again, I agree. It's not about the winning or losing for me, it's not about the strong or weak opening, I just think it makes for a dull game. It's discouraging.

Electricpawn-

I'm sorry to hear that, but I understand. If you don't feel that strongly about it, that's perfectly fine. I wish you well regardless.

Thanks for all the... positive feedback.

-Leo

Tigergutt-

I am truly sorry you thought my joke in poor taste. I was attempting to poke a little friendly fun at the fact that you were from Norway, in the same part of the world. I apologize that it did not go over well. I'm afraid I read your post too fast, as I was short on time and trying to respond to everyone's two cents. I actually have found something I now use against the Scandinavian, but I still don't like the games it brings about. Check the forums of the group I created for a game I DID like against someone who played the Scandinavian. Anyway, sorry again for my bad response.

-Leo

Franz Kafka played the Scandinavian.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1284413

Kafka was a brilliant if depresseing writer. Everyone should read Metamorphosis and The Penal Colony. Of course this was the English translation. I had no idea he was a chess player.  

Atos-

Good for Franz Kafka. As I've mentioned before, masters and grandmasters I have no right to criticize whatsoever. I'm speaking about those who are around the range of 1000 to 1400. Other than that... Yeah.

-Leo

Hi Guys, I at least commend your showing initiative and interest in chess, the game I love. The comments I have made in this open forum were made with all humor.

Feel free to challenge me to games, even vote games, where you can practice your anti-Scandinavian theories. Goodluck

VuduChile-

Thanks, I appreciate that.

I think we might wait a little while on the challenges. You seem quite knowledgable about the use of that opening and we have only four members in our group...

-Leo

Personally, I hate 1.e4. That's why I play in the 1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense group.

Yes, this is a group promotion.

I hereby challenge the Scandinavian Haters Group to a game of vote chess.

Go ahead! Play 1.e4! We will crush you!

huh?  There is a breed of people who hate e4?