Openings · plays Black

The Scandinavian Defence

Meet 1.e4 head-on with 1...d5. You reach a sound, easy-to-play position in every game: the perfect antidote to memorising oceans of Sicilian theory.

Step through the main line

The lines

Main Line (3...Qa5)

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Bc4 Bf5 7. Bd2 e6 8. Qe2 Bb4

The Modern (3...Qd6)

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. g3 b5 7. Bg2 Bb7

The Portuguese Structure (2...Nf6)

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 Nb6

vs an Early c4 (Icelandic feel)

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. dxe6 Bxe6 5. d4 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Ne4

How this guide is made: the lines and explanations come from the authored Strong Squares repertoire curriculum. Automated checks verify legal move sequences and required teaching fields. Independent chess-editor approval remains a private-preview release gate. Read the teaching method.