Recommended level: Players familiar with algebraic notation and fundamental development principles.

Guiding thread: Build the Capablanca structure, target White's d4 pawn, and exploit the light-square strategy.

Table of Contents

• 1. General Idea
• 2. The Position Type
• 3. Overview of White's Responses
• Part I — White Moves Other Than 2.exd5
• Part II — The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (2.d4)
• Part III — White's Third Moves
• Part IV — 3.Nf3, the Main Alternative
• Part V — White's Fourth Moves
• Part VI — The Main Line 5.Nf3
• Recurring Motifs
• Revision Sheet

Objective. This guide presents a complete repertoire for Black against 1.e4, based on the Scandinavian Defense and its main 3...Qa5 variation. Variations and plans are presented practically, with particular attention to critical positions, pawn breaks, and typical maneuvers.

1. General Idea

The Scandinavian Defense (also called the central counterplay) is one of the oldest openings, with the first recorded game dating back to 1475. The repertoire presented here is entirely based on the 3...Qa5 variation, considered clearly superior to retreating the queen to ...Qd6 or ...Qd8, which are judged passive.

The underlying strategic idea is simple: after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5, Black trades the d5 pawn for White's e4 pawn, then settles into a solid structure without weaknesses. White's d4 pawn then becomes a permanent target, and White's space advantage often turns into a weakness.

Guiding Principles

• Play the queen to a5, its natural square, rather than retreating it passively.
• Build the Capablanca structure: Black pawns on c6 and e6, light-squared bishop developed outside the pawn chain (on f5 or g4).
• Target White's d4 pawn: doubled rooks on the d-file, ...Bg4/...Be4 against the knight f3, breaks with ...c5 or ...e5.
• Exploit the d5 square as an outpost for Black's pieces.
• Place Black pawns on light squares to limit White's bishop activity.
• Use the ...b7-b5 push to control c4 and install a knight on c4 via b6.

2. The Position Type

The starting position of the main line repertoire is:

Base sequence: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5.

The Black queen exerts distant pressure on the b2 and d4 pawns. The bishop on f5, developed before ...e6, controls e4 and prepares the Capablanca structure.

Key position. The White knight is on c3: it prevents White from reinforcing the d4 pawn with c3. This is the structural reason why the d4 pawn is a durable target throughout the entire Scandinavian.

---

3. Overview of White's Responses

The repertoire is organized into six major families:

1. White moves other than 2.exd5: 2.Nc3 (Van Geet Opening), 2.Nf3 (Tennison Gambit), 2.e5, 2.f3, 2.d3.
2. Blackmar-Diemer Gambit: 1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3.
3. White's third moves: 3.d4 and the poor 3.c4.
4. 3.Nf3: the main alternative to 3.Nc3.
5. White's fourth moves: 4.b4 (Leonhardt Gambit), 4.g3, 4.Bc4, 4.d4 with 5.Bd3.
6. Main line 5.Nf3: White's fifth and sixth moves, including 6.Bd2, 6.Ne5, and 6.Bc4.

---

Part I — White Moves Other Than 2.exd5

4. Against 2.Nc3 (Van Geet Opening)

The most energetic response is to seize space in the center with tempo:

1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 d4!

2...dxe4 would be too cooperative: it would activate White's knight for free. After 2...d4, the knight must retreat:

2.Nc3 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.Ng3 Be6 5.Nf3 f6

Black establishes an impressive pawn chain extending from g7 to d4. Their space advantage is already significant.

A strong tactical idea to remember in this variation:

1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.Ng3 Be6 5.Nf3 f6
6.Bb5+ c6 7.Ba4 Na6 8.Bb3 Bxb3 9.axb3 d3!

Key idea. The move ...d3 permanently traps White's dark-squared bishop: it will never see the light of day. Black retains a clear advantage.

5. Against 2.Nf3 (Tennison Gambit)

The Tennison Gambit tries to recover the pawn with Ng5, but Black can return the favor and dominate the center:

1.e4 d5 2.Nf3 dxe4 3.Ng5 e5

By returning the pawn while seizing the center, Black obtains an excellent position:

3.Ng5 e5 4.Nxe4 f5 5.Nec3 Bc5

The White knight, which started on g1, ends up on c3 where it hinders the development of the b1 knight. Black has full control of the center.

6. Against 2.e5

The advanced e5 pawn is more of a target than an asset:

1.e4 d5 2.e5 c5

Black takes control of d4. If White plays 3.f4 (a McDonell Attack resembling an inferior Sicilian), the natural continuation is:

2.e5 c5 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nh6 5.Be2 Bg4 6.O-O e6

The g8 knight will head to f5 or even d4. The light-squared bishop is developed outside the pawn chain, and White will struggle to develop their queenside.

Against 3.Bb5+, a remarkable plan consists of undermining the f3 knight, the sole defender of the e5 pawn:

1.e4 d5 2.e5 c5 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7
5.Nf3 e6 6.O-O g5 7.d4 g4 8.Ne1 cxd4 9.Qxg4 Nxe5
10.Qxd4 Bg7

Black has eliminated White's center and is already slightly better, with the threat of ...Nf3+ and ...Ne7-c6 to come.

Against 3.c3, developing the bishop to f5 is the correct method:

1.e4 d5 2.e5 c5 3.c3 Bf5!

Then ...e6, obtaining a very favorable version of the French or Advance Caro-Kann, with the light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain.

7. Against 2.f3 and 2.d3

Against 2.f3, Black simply threatens to win material:

1.e4 d5 2.f3 e5 3.d4 dxe4 4.d5 Nf6 5.Bg5 exf3 6.Nxf3 Nbd7

White has nothing to show for being a pawn down.

Against 2.d3, the queens are exchanged and the White king is displaced:

1.e4 d5 2.d3 dxe4 3.dxe4 Qxd1+ 4.Kxd1 Nc6

Black then develops the knight to f6, plays ...e5 and ...Bc5 to target f2. The position is comfortable for Black.

---

Part II — The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit (2.d4)

8. Accepting the Gambit

The best refutation of a gambit is to accept it:

1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6

The move 5...c6 is the most faithful to the Scandinavian spirit: Black wants to develop the light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain, then install an impregnable Capablanca structure with ...e6, claiming a pawn up "for nothing."

The model continuation:

5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.O-O e6 8.Ne5 Bg6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Kh1 Nbd7

Key position. The move ...Bg6 is essential: it removes the bishop from Rxf5 and neutralizes the Nxf7 threat. After ...Be7 and ...Nbd7, Black is solid, a pawn up, clearly better.

9. Traps to Avoid

Two classic Blackmar-Diemer traps must be known:

1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bg4??
7.Bxf7+!

After 7...Kxf7 8.Ne5+ Kg8 9.Nxg4, Black has lost castling rights and the position is winning for White. The bishop must go to f5, not g4.

Second trap, after 7.O-O e6 8.Ne5:

8...Nbd7? 9.Rxf5! exf5 10.Nxf7

Black is lost. The correct move is always 8...Bg6. Similarly, 8...Bxc2? runs into 9.Nxf7! which gives White the advantage.

10. Other White Sixth Moves

Against 6.Bd3, the bishop simply develops to g4:

1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 c6 6.Bd3 Bg4
7.O-O e6

Black completes development with ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nbd7. White's compensation for the pawn is insufficient.

Against 7.Nh4, the knight moves poorly and Black strikes at the center:

7.Nh4 Bg4 8.Qd3 e6 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Nd5!

The move ...Nd5 uncovers an attack against the h4 knight.

Against 7.Ne5 (the second most popular move), the tactical solution is elegant:

7.Ne5 e6 8.g4 Nfd7!

The move ...Nfd7 opens the way to ...Qh4+:

8.g4 Nfd7 9.Nxd7 Qh4+ 10.Kd2 Bxg4

Black wins a piece after ...Nxd7. The f6 knight is sacrificed without being recaptured: "chess is not checkers."

---

Part III — White's Third Moves

11. Against 3.d4

Black prepares the ...e5 break rather than playing it immediately:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.d4 Nc6!

The critical continuation:

3.d4 Nc6 4.Nf3 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 e4
8.Ne5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ne7 10.Qe2 Be6 11.g3 e3!

Key idea. The e3 pawn is sacrificed to weaken White's structure. After 12.f3 O-O-O 13.Qxe3 Qc6, Black has total compensation: the queen controls d5 and White, though a pawn up, is significantly behind in development.

12. Against 3.c4

This move is an error, as Black's queen strikes immediately:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.c4 Qe4+!

3...Qe4+ disrupts White's plan. After 4.Be2 Qxg2, White has nothing to show for the lost pawn.

---

Part IV — 3.Nf3, the Main Alternative

13. Black's Plan: Prevent White's Ideal Center

3.Nf3 is the best alternative to 3.Nc3. White leaves the c-file free and aims for an ideal center with c4 and d4. Black opposes this with the pin:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Bg4!

Black intends ...Nc6 and ...O-O-O to be ready to fight White's central expansion.

14. After 4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3

This unambitious White move allows the liquidation:

4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 Qe6+ 7.Qe2 Nd4!

The move ...Nd4 forces the queen exchange. The intermezzo ...Nxf3+ ruins White's structure:

7.Qe2 Nd4 8.Qxe6 Nxf3+ 9.gxf3 fxe6

Key position. Both sides have doubled pawns on open files, but Black's structure is slightly healthier: White's h-pawn is weaker. The recommended development scheme is ...g6 and ...Bg7, with the g8 knight heading to f5 to jump to f4, or to h6 then f5 to attack the f3 pawn.

15. The Endgame After the Queen Exchange

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Be2 Nc6 5.h3 Bxf3
6.Bxf3 Qe6+ 7.Qe2 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 O-O-O

Black castles queenside and is ready to play ...e5. After 9.c3 e5 10.d3 g6, the extra space more than compensates for White's bishop pair. The typical continuation: 11.Nd2 Bh6 12.Kd1 f5 13.Kc2 Nf6, then centralization with ...Rhe8 and ...Nd5.

---

Part V — White's Fourth Moves

16. Against 4.b4 (Leonhardt Gambit)

This provocative gambit only works if Black is lost:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.b4 Qxb4!

The queen is perfectly safe on d6:

4.b4 Qxb4 5.Rb1 Qd6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.d4 g6

With the queen on d6, the ...Bg7 fianchetto makes perfect sense and the king will be very safe. The instructions for this scheme:

• if White attacks the queen, simply retreat to ...Qd8;
• cover c7 with ...Na6 if necessary;
• avoid creating footholds with ...c6 or ...e6;
• if White plays slowly, develop with ...Bg7 and ...O-O, the extra pawn counting in the long run.

The typical line: 8.Nb5 Qd8 9.Bf4 Na6, then ...Bg7 and ...O-O.

17. Against 4.g3

This development is harmless: the g2 bishop will bite on granite after ...c6. Black takes the center themselves:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 e5
6.Nge2 Bd6 7.O-O O-O 8.d4 c6

...c6 restricts White's light-squared bishop and firmly takes control of d5. Followed by ...Bf5 and ...Nd7 with an excellent game.

18. Against 4.Bc4

The queen on a5 prevents Nd5 discovered attack. Black plays the queenside plan:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.d3 a6!

The idea is to expand with ...b5 and develop the bishop to b7. The continuation:

5.d3 a6 6.Bd2 Qf5 7.Nge2 b5 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.Ng3 Qd7

Black completes development with ...e6, ...Bd6 and ...Bb7. They are very comfortable.

19. Against 5.Bd3 (After 4.d4)

The d4 pawn lacks protection:

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6
6.Ne2 Bf5 7.O-O O-O-O

Black exerts fantastic pressure on the d4 pawn; White must already play carefully to avoid ending up significantly worse.

---

Part VI — The Main Line 5.Nf3

20. White's Fifth Move

After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6, the most natural move is:

5.Nf3

The recommended response is 5...Bf5, more flexible than 5...c6: it keeps the option of ...c5 in one move or developing the b8 knight to c6.

Against 6.Bd3

This club-level move is harmless: exchanges only help Black, who has less space:

5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bd3 e6 7.O-O Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Be7 9.Bf4 c6

The model continuation: 10.Ne4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Nd7 12.Rfe1 O-O 13.c4 Rfd8 14.Qc2 Nf8, then ...Ng6, ...Bf6 and ...Qb6 converge on the d4 pawn.

21. Against 6.Bd2

White prepares Ne5 followed by g4 against the f5 bishop. Black's defense:

5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bd2 e6 7.Ne5 Qb6!

...Qb6 targets the d4 pawn and neutralizes the g4 threat. The critical line:

7.Ne5 Qb6 8.Qf3 c6 9.O-O-O Nbd7 10.Nc4 Qd8
11.h3 Nd5 12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne4 Qc7 14.Bd3 Be7

Key idea. The queen has been pushed back to d8, but the White knight is poorly placed on c4 and the threat of ...Bg4 pinning proves it. Black can consider ...c5 or the ...b5 expansion with confidence.

22. Against 6.Ne5

This is one of the most demanding variations in the entire Scandinavian ...Qa5:

5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Ne5 c6 7.Nc4 Qd8

The queen has lost a bit of time, but the White knight on c4 is far from ideally placed. The continuation:

7.Nc4 Qd8 8.Be2 h6 9.O-O e6 10.Bf4 Be7

...h6 creates a retreat square for the bishop on h7 and defuses g4 + h4 ideas. Followed by ...O-O and ...Nd7-b6: Black has a perfectly sound position, without any weakness.

Against the aggressive 7.g4:

6.Ne5 c6 7.g4 Be6! 8.Bc4 Nbd7!

The move ...Nbd7 is an elegant resource: no question of recapturing the e6 bishop, take on e5 instead!

8.Bc4 Nbd7 9.Bxe6 Nxe5 10.Qe2 Ng6 11.Bb3 e6

The b3 bishop is limited and White's g4 pawn is nothing but a weakness.

Against the main plan 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 (chasing the bishop with g4 and h4):

6.Ne5 c6 7.Bc4 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Nbd7
10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.h5 Be4 12.O-O Bd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bd3 Bd6

Key position. White has the bishop pair and more space on the kingside, but their position is not without danger: one careless move and they find themselves overextended on the kingside. Black's solution is the regrouping 15.Bd2 Qb6! then ...Bc7, targeting the exposed White king.

23. Against 6.Bc4

The Laznicka Variation

6.Bc4 e6 and now the critical seventh move:

5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bd2 Bb4!

The Laznicka Variation (named after the Czech grandmaster who played it against the best) seems anti-positional as Black gives up the bishop pair, but after the exchange on c3, White's dark-squared bishop is poorly placed and ineffective on c3.

7.Bd2 Bb4 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Qb6 10.O-O Nc6 11.a4 a5
12.d5 O-O-O

Key position. By sacrificing the exchange after 13.dxc6 Rxd1 14.cxb7+, Black gets far more than they give: the queen returns to b7 and the bishop takes the long diagonal with ...Be4. The White king is vulnerable on the d-file.

Against Quiet Development 7.O-O

Without the Laznicka Variation, Black simply plays:

6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Bd2 c6 9.Nd5 Qd8 10.Ne3 Bg6

The queen has returned home and the White knight must move again. The e3 knight is poorly placed: it blocks the dark-squared bishop and the e-file. Followed by ...Bd6 and ...O-O.

---

Recurring Motifs to Remember

The Capablanca Structure

This is the most frequent pawn formation in the Scandinavian: Black pawns on c6 and e6 facing White's d4 pawn. Its characteristics:

• White space advantage, but d4 pawn attackable. The e5 square is a natural outpost for White's f3 knight, but Black has no pawn weaknesses.
• The d4 pawn is a target. Double rooks on the d-file, undermine the f3 knight with ...Bg4/...Be4, and the pawn cannot be reinforced by c3 because of the c3 knight.
• The d5 outpost. Since White cannot chase Black's pieces with c4, d5 is an excellent square for Black's pieces.
• Light-square strategy. Black pawns on light squares neutralize White's bishops.
• The ...b5 expansion. It locks down c4 and allows ...Nb6-c4, or the march ...a5-a4 and ...b5-b4.

Pawn Breaks

• ...c5: the most frequent break. Once the d4 pawn is exchanged, White's space advantage is neutralized and Black is comfortable.
• ...e5: a frequent alternative, particularly effective when a pin on the diagonal (for example a7-g1) prevents White's natural response.

Typical Maneuvers

• Black queen: ...Qa5 → ...Qb6 (targeting b2 and d4) or retreat to ...Qd8, the natural safe square.
• b8 knight: developed to d7, then ...Nb6-c4; or to c6 to target d4 and support ...e5.
• g8 knight: to h5 to jump to f4; to h6 then f5 to attack the f3 pawn.
• Light-squared bishop: developed to f5 (or g4), never before ...e6 in closed structures.
• Kings: frequent queenside castling (...O-O-O) to bring a rook to the d-file.

Traps to Know

• In the Blackmar-Diemer: never ...Bg4? after Bc4 (Bxf7+ wins), never ...Nbd7? against Ne5 (Rxf5 wins). Always ...Bf5, then ...Bg6.
• When White's bishops are on d2 and c4, Black's queen cannot stay on a5: Nd5 discovered attack is decisive. Play ...Qb6.
• In the 6.Ne5 variation: recapture with the knight on e5, not with the pawn.

---

Revision Sheet

Move Orders

• Against 2.Nc3: 2...d4!, then ...e5 and center control.
• Against 2.Nf3: 2...dxe4 3.Ng5 e5, return the pawn and take the center.
• Against 2.e5: 2...c5, the e5 pawn is a target.
• Against 2.d4 (Blackmar-Diemer): accept with 4...exf3 5.Nxf3 c6, then ...Bf5 and ...Bg6.
• Against 2.exd5: 2...Qxd5, then 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5.
• Against 3.Nf3: 3...Bg4, prevent White's ideal center.

Plans to Memorize

White's Response	Black's Plan
2.Nc3	...d4, space in the center
2.Nf3 (Tennison)	...dxe4, ...e5, center
2.e5	...c5, target the e5 pawn
2.d4 (Blackmar-Diemer)	Accept the pawn, ...c6, ...Bf5, ...Bg6
3.c4	...Qe4+ and win the g2 pawn
3.Nf3	...Bg4, ...Nc6, ...O-O-O
4.b4 (Leonhardt)	...Qxb4, queen to d6, fianchetto
4.g3	...e5, then ...d4 and ...c6
4.Bc4	...a6, ...b5, bishop to b7
6.Bd2	...Qb6, target d4
6.Ne5	...c6, queen to d8, White knight misplaced
6.Bc4	Laznicka Variation ...Bb4, pressure on the d-file

Control Questions

1. Can White's d4 pawn be reinforced by c3? (No: the White knight is on c3.)
2. Where to develop the light-squared bishop? (Outside the chain: ...Bf5 or ...Bg4, before ...e6.)
3. Is the queen safe on a5? (Not if White's bishops are on d2 and c4: play ...Qb6.)
4. Is the Capablanca structure in place (...c6, ...e6)?
5. How to attack the d4 pawn? (Doubled rooks, ...Bg4/...Be4, breaks with ...c5 or ...e5.)
6. Is the ...b5 expansion possible to control c4 and install a knight on c4?

Working method. First learn the critical positions and their plans, then review the short variations by verifying the motif that justifies them: gaining space, attacking a piece, opening a line, or exploiting a development lag.