Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Scandinavian Defence
Black hits e4 with 1...d5 and takes back on d5, while White gains time by chasing the queen.
The idea
Black answers e4 with d5, and White gains time by chasing the queen.
- Black’s queen has taken back on d5, in the middle of the board.
- The knight comes to c3: it develops and attacks the queen.
- The queen has to move again, often to a5.
In a game: When your opponent’s queen comes out early, develop a piece that attacks her.
How the lesson begins
The Scandinavian Defence starts 1.e4 d5. Black attacks the pawn on e4 at once, before White can support it.
White usually takes: among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, White played 2.exd5 in 67% of the games that reached 1.e4 d5. Black then plans to take back on d5, with the queen at once or with a knight a move later.
Find the move
Black to move. White has taken on d5. Take the pawn back now, or bring out the piece that will take it back next move.
A hint
Take with the queen, or bring out the knight from g8.
Show the answer
2... Qxd5
Qxd5 takes back at once. Nf6 is what Lichess calls the Modern Variation: the knight comes out first and takes on d5 next. Among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, Black chose 2...Qxd5 in 73% of these games and 2...Nf6 in 18%.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | 48 |
| 800 to 1199 | 59 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 55 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 51 |
| 2000 and up | 31 |
How the games ended
White won 49%, 4% were drawn and Black won 47%, over 95,318 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.