Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation — How to Play as Black
Instead of retreating the knight after 1.e4 Nf6, you can immediately challenge the centre with 2…d5. After 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 you reach a lively, open position where Black already has a comfortable game. Your knight sits in the centre, you have equal space, and White must decide how to develop. The engine evaluates the position at +0.23, a tiny edge for White — but the statistics tell a better story: across nearly seven million games, Black actually wins more often than White. The drill below will show you exactly how to keep the balance and punish White's most common mistakes.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation: exd5 against the engine
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Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation exd5 – Play Black
Create a free account →Why This Opening Works for Black
The Alekhine Defense is famous for letting Black provoke and then undermine White's centre. The Scandinavian Variation (2…d5) takes an even more direct approach: you challenge the e4-pawn immediately rather than letting it advance. After 3.exd5 Nxd5 you have a developed piece in the middle of the board, while White has only moved the knight to c3. The engine gives +0.23 for White — the smallest of edges — but over the board you are completely fine. In fact, Black wins 50.9% of the time from this position, compared to 44.4% for White. That’s a remarkable practical success rate for a line many players consider 'equal'. You're not trying to equalise; you're asking White to prove they can handle an open position with precise play.
The Engine's Reply and the Critical Tabiya
Stockfish prefers Bc4 here, followed by …e6, Nf3, and …Be7. This setup pressures your knight on d5 while White finishes development. After 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nf3 Be7 you have a solid, flexible position. Your knight on d5 can stay put or retreat when needed, and your kingside is ready to castle. This is the key tabiya of the variation — both sides have natural moves, and Black's position contains no weaknesses. If White plays something else, you often get an even better deal.
The Most Popular Moves — and What They Mean for You
Over 4.68 million games have seen White capture with 4.Nxd5 — the most common move by far. That leads to a symmetrical pawn structure after …Qxd5, and White scores only 42.7% from there. That is actually a poor result for White, which makes sense: Black gets easy development and no weaknesses. White's other options score better but still below 50%: - Bc4 scores 49.0% for White — the engine's first choice, but not scary. - Nf3 scores 48.3%. - d4 scores 48.9%. - Qf3 scores 47.4%. - Nge2 scores 46.8%. None of these moves give White a winning edge in practice, and Black's winning percentage is higher than White's against every one of them.
Two Specific White Inaccuracies to Exploit
Two moves come with a clear warning label. 4.Qf3 is an inaccuracy that costs White about half a pawn — the engine says Bc4 was better. Black can respond with …Nxc3 or …e6, consolidating while White's queen is oddly placed. Even worse is 4.Nge2, which loses roughly 0.7 pawns compared to Bc4. This move develops the knight to a passive square and gives Black a comfortable lead in coordination. A simple reaction like …Nxc3 or …Nxd5 followed by …Qxd5 leaves White struggling to find active play. These are the moments where you can turn a slight edge into a clear advantage.
Results across 6,868,821 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd5 | 4,680,031 | 42.7% |
| Bc4 | 611,042 | 49.0% |
| Nf3 | 593,569 | 48.3% |
| d4 | 421,626 | 48.9% |
| Qf3 | 220,995 | 47.4% |
| Nge2 | 114,149 | 46.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation risky for Black?
Not at all. The engine assessment (+0.23) is barely above equal, and the statistics show Black actually wins more often than White (50.9% vs 44.4%). It's a sound, practical choice.
What should I do if White plays 4.Nxd5?
Simple: recapture with the queen (4…Qxd5). You get easy development, no weaknesses, and White scores only 42.7% from this position — meaning you're already slightly better in practice.
How do I handle 4.Bc4, the engine's top move?
Play 4…e6, then meet 5.Nf3 with 5…Be7. Your knight on d5 is secure, you're ready to castle, and the position is perfectly fine for Black. Just develop naturally.
Which White moves should I be happiest to see?
4.Qf3 and 4.Nge2 are both inaccuracies. Against Qf3, consider …Nxc3 or …e6. Against Nge2, take on c3 or just develop. Both give you a comfortable edge.