Scandinavian Defense: 2...Qxd5 & 5.Nf3 Bg4
Scandinavian Defense: 2…Qxd5
Definition
The move 2…Qxd5 defines the modern main line of the Scandinavian Defense, arising after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5. Black immediately recaptures the pawn with the queen instead of a minor piece, accepting a slight loss of tempo to obtain rapid piece activity and a solid central foothold.
How It Is Used in Play
- Central Influence: By recapturing on d5 at once, Black ensures a pawn presence in the center is maintained.
- Development Strategy: The queen is typically withdrawn to a5, d6, or d8 on the next move, making room for …Ng8-f6, …c6 or …e6, and …Bf8-b4 or …Bf8-g7.
- Provocation: Black challenges White to gain tempi by attacking the queen, hoping that the resulting positions will be open enough to compensate for the time loss.
Strategic and Historical Significance
The Scandinavian is one of the oldest recorded openings—mentioned in XVI-century treatises— but 2…Qxd5 gained wide modern acceptance only in the late 20th century. Grandmasters Sergei Tiviakov and Ian Rogers became leading specialists, proving its soundness against elite opposition. Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, and many blitz stars have all experimented with it, particularly in rapid and online events.
Typical Plans
- Black: …Qa5 or …Qd6 to shelter the queen; …Nf6, …c6 & …Bf5 to harmonise development; sometimes …g6 & …Bg7 for a fianchetto set-up.
- White: Develop with tempo (Nc3, Nf3, d4, Bc4); castle quickly and aim for a space advantage; exploit the queen’s early exposure with Bg5 or Bf4 motifs.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- World Champion Magnus Carlsen used 2…Qxd5 against Anish Giri in Wijk aan Zee 2019, later explaining that he “liked the surprise value more than the objective evaluation.”
- GM Sergei Tiviakov once boasted a 22-game unbeaten streak with Black in this very line at top-level events from 2005–2007 [[Chart|Rating|Classical|2000-2020]].
- The line is occasionally dubbed the “Tiviakov Variation” in databases because of his extensive contributions.
5.Nf3 Bg4 (Scandinavian Defense, Main Line)
Definition
The sequence 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 introduces a critical tabiya of the Scandinavian. Black pins the knight on f3, accelerating piece pressure on the d4-pawn and preparing …Nc6, …O-O-O, or …e6. The variation can be reached via several transpositions but always features the characteristic queen on a5 and bishop on g4.
Practical Usage
- Active Pin: …Bg4 discourages White’s e2-e4-e5 advance and can saddle White with doubled f-pawns if Black captures on f3 at the right moment.
- King-Side Flexibility: Black may castle short after …e6, but many experts prefer keeping the king in the centre or castling long to launch a counter-attack on the king side.
- Typical White Remedies: h3, Be2, or Bd2 to question the pin; sometimes 6. Bc4 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. g4 to gain space and the bishop pair.
Strategic Themes
- White: Use tempi from harassing the g4-bishop to expand on the king side, seize the e5-square, and exploit the half-open f-file if doubled pawns arise.
- Black: Keep pressure on d4; consider the thematic sacrifice …Bxh3 in tactical positions; coordinate queen and bishop battery on the a5-e1 diagonal.
Historical Notes
Although the line appeared in 19th-century coffee-house play, it was revitalised in the 1990s by GMs Jonathan Tisdall and Curt Hansen. Sergei Tiviakov employed it in dozens of games, and it featured in the 2021 World Cup when Duda defeated Grischuk with Black, showcasing its resilience at elite level.
Illustrative Game Snippet
Interesting Tidbits
- Many club players remember this line from the classic book “Scandinavian Defense” by GM John Emms, whose recommended antidote for White (6. h3) remains popular.
- The double-edge can escalate quickly: after 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4, engines once assessed the position as +=, but modern neural nets sometimes swing to …= or –/+ after deep calculation, highlighting ongoing theoretical debates.
- GM Alexander Grischuk quipped in 2020, “If I want to play for a win with Black in the Scandinavian, I go for …Bg4; otherwise, I shuffle the queen to d6 and hope White gets bored first.”