Chess opening · ECO B01
Scandinavian Defense
The Scandinavian Defense starts 1. e4 d5. It ranks #8 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... d5Black pushes the d-pawn two squares to d5, staking a claim in the center.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. exd5 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | exd5 37% | e5 23% | Nc3 12% |
| 1200–1399 | exd5 53% | e5 25% | Nc3 7% |
| 1400–1599 | exd5 68% | e5 21% | Nc3 2% |
| 1600–1799 | exd5 80% | e5 14% | Nf3 3% |
| 1800–1999 | exd5 84% | e5 9% | Nf3 2% |
| 2000 and up | exd5 85% | Nc3 5% | e5 5% |
Related openings
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