Scandinavian Defense: Modern Icelandic Palme Gambit
Scandinavian Defense
Definition
The Scandinavian Defense is a semi-open chess opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 d5. Black immediately counters in the center, challenging the e-pawn instead of building up with …e5 or …c5. ECO codes place the opening in the B01 family.
Usage & Typical Move Orders
The most common continuations are:
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 (Classical line)
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 (the 2…Nf6 complex leading to several gambits, including the Icelandic and Palme)
- 1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 or 2. e5, in which White avoids the capture but allows Black to equalize more easily
Strategic Significance
Black concedes a small tempo—since the queen may be chased—but gains:
- Clear central presence and quick piece activity
- An unbalanced pawn structure that often removes theoretical “wall-of-Maróczy” positions from the table
- Lots of surprise value. Even at elite level the Scandinavian crops up as an occasional weapon (e.g., Magnus Carlsen, Veselin Topalov, and Ian Nepomniachtchi have each used it).
Illustrative Game
Ivanchuk – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2012, showed how Black can hold his own in the Classical line despite the queen’s early excursion.
Historical Notes
Although used sporadically in the 19th century, the opening gained real traction after World War II thanks to the work of Bent Larsen. Modern engine evaluations rate the Scandinavian roughly “=+” to “=” (balanced but demanding precision from Black).
Trivia
- The name reflects early Scandinavian masters—especially the Dane Ludvig Paulsen—who analyzed 1…d5 in the 1800s.
- Because the queen often lands on a5, chess literature sometimes jokingly refers to any early …Qa5 as “Scandi-style.”
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation
Definition
The Modern Variation is the most popular branch of the Scandinavian: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5. Black sidesteps direct attacks on the queen (such as 4. c4) while maintaining central control.
Strategic Themes
- Black plans …c6, …Bf5/…Bg4, …e6, and rapid castling queenside or kingside depending on White’s setup.
- White aims at piece activity with Nf3, d4, Bc4, and sometimes a kingside pawn storm if Black castles long.
- The queen on a5 eyes the c3-knight and pressures the a2–g8 diagonal, but must avoid traps along the e8–h5 diagonal (e.g., 4. b4!?).
Example Miniature
Black’s aggressive play nets material at the cost of king safety—typical of the variation.
Interesting Fact
Grandmaster Sergey Tiviakov once went 12½/13 with the Modern Variation in international play, sparking a mini-boom in the 2000s.
Icelandic Gambit (Scandinavian Defense)
Definition
The Icelandic Gambit (also called the “Icelandic-Palme Gambit”) appears after:
- 1. e4 d5
- 2. exd5 Nf6
- 3. d4 e6
- 4. dxe6 Bxe6
Black sacrifices the d-pawn, betting on swift development and open lines for the bishops.
Strategic & Tactical Ideas
- Rapid piece play: …Nc6, …Qe7(-h4), …0-0-0
- Pressure on the c- and d-files, often culminating in sacrifices on d4 or e3
- Typical attacking motifs against the white king when castled kingside ( …Nb4, …Bf5, …Rc8)
Typical Continuations
After 5. Nf3 Nc6, theory branches into:
- 6. Be2 (solid)
- 6. c3 (trying to cement the extra pawn)
- 6. Bb5 (testing the knight)
In each line Black counts on piece activity to compensate for the pawn.
Historical Significance
Named for Icelandic masters (notably GM Helgi Ólafsson) who championed the gambit during the 1970s Reykjavik chess boom. Early analysis appeared in the Icelandic magazine Skákfréttir, quickly spreading to Scandinavian clubs.
Notable Game
Olafsson – Sigurjónsson, Reykjavik 1972, is a classic demonstration where Black’s bishops sliced through White’s center for a swift win.
Palme Gambit (Scandinavian Defense)
Definition
The Palme Gambit is a sister idea to the Icelandic, reached by: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4. Instead of 3…e6, Black pins the f3-square, continuing development while still giving up the d-pawn.
Conceptual Goals
- Provoke 4. f3, weakening White’s king
- Follow with …c6, …Qxd5 or …Qb6, leveraging the dark-square bishop’s activity
- Maintain open diagonals and tactical chances similar to the Icelandic but with different piece placement
Name & History
The line honors Swedish master Jóhann Pálmi Brynjarsson (nick-named “Palme”), who analyzed the idea in the 1960s Nordic circuit. Although less popular than the Icelandic Gambit, it remains a dangerous surprise weapon.
Sample Line
Interesting Anecdote
Legend says Palme unveiled the gambit in a Reykjavik blitz session, winning 15 games in a row against titled players before anyone found a reliable antidote.