The Complete Chess Course From Beginning To Winning Chess! (2016)

Book Seven

How to Play the e-pawn Openings

Scandinavian Defense

This is definitely an inferior defense. The early moves of Black’s queen lose time, with further loss of time indicated. This comes about because after 1.e4, Black replies 1…d5 instead of preparing his pawn move with 1…e6 (French Defense) or with 1…c6 (Caro-Kann Defense).

Scandinavian Defense

White - Black

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 (D)

Position after 3…Qa5

Black’s faulty development of the queen has allowed White to gain time for his own development. Later on, White will gain more time by further attacks on the black queen.

4.d4 Nf6

Another possibility is 4…e5 5.dxe5 Qxe5+ 6.Be2 followed by 7.Nf3 driving away the black queen with gain of time.

5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3! Bh5

Or 6…Bxf3 7.Qxf3 and White remains ahead in development and also has the positional advantage of two bishops against bishop and knight.

7.g4! Bg6 8.Ne5! c6

Preparing a retreat for his queen in view of the threat of Nc4.

9.h4! Ne4 10.Bd2 Qb6

Even worse is 10…Nxd2 11.Qxd2 (threatening to win a piece with h4-h5) 11…f6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Bd3 when Black’s kingside pawn formation has been damaged irreparably.

11.Nxg6 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 hxg6 13.Qd2 e6 14.0-0-0

White continues 15.Bg2, and with his greater freedom of action and his two bishops against bishop and knight, has a clear positional advantage. Black’s game has no compensating features.