Chess opening · ECO B01
Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation
Black does not recapture on d5 right away in the Modern Variation. 2...Nf6 develops a knight that eyes the d5 pawn, planning ...Nxd5 next. White is a pawn up on the board, and the question is whether White simply develops and lets the pawn go, or tries to hold it with c4 or Bb5+.
- Rank by weighted share
- #70 of 159
- Material
- White +1
Key moves
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6
- 2... Nf6The knight attacks d5 at once and keeps Black's queen at home, out of reach of Nc3. If White plays the natural 3.d4, Black takes back with the knight and gets a central piece in place of the queen the Mieses-Kotroc puts there.
3.d4 and a knight on d5
After 3.d4 Nxd5, White has the d4 pawn and a free hand in development, while Black's knight sits in the middle. Once White plays Nf3, Black often pins it with ...Bg4. A later c4 drives the knight from d5 to b6 and gains space.
Trying to keep the pawn with 3.c4
Supporting d5 with c4 holds the pawn but spends time. Black has two gambit replies. After 3...c6 4.dxc6 Nxc6, Black has a knight on c6 and open lines for the bishops. After 3...e6 4.dxe6 Bxe6, Black's bishop is already developed and the d-file is open toward White's d2 pawn.
In both, Black gives a pawn for development and open files rather than winning it back.
Development first after 3.d4
3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Nc6 7. c4 Nb6
Black has regained the pawn and developed three pieces. White's c4 pushes the knight to b6 and takes space, while Black's pressure on d4 from the c6 knight keeps White's center under watch.
Top replies by rating
Nc3 tops every band below 1800. From 1800 up, d4 takes over the lead, and c4 stays between 25 and 28 from 1200 through 1999.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nc3 47% | c4 26% | Bc4 26% |
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 43% | c4 26% | Bc4 11% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 39% | c4 28% | d4 11% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 29% | c4 28% | d4 18% |
| 1800–1999 | d4 28% | Nc3 27% | c4 25% |
| 2000 and up | d4 36% | Bb5+ 19% | c4 19% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.