Chessy
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation for Black
After 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5, White has the move and the position is already sharpened. Your job as Black is simple to state but not always easy to play: meet the centre directly, stay alert for the most popular choices, and know which replies are only natural-looking but inaccurate. The drill below lets you practise the critical position against an adapting engine, so you can learn the right feel for this opening rather than memorising long lines.
Play the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →The main idea after 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5
This opening asks you to challenge White’s centre immediately. You are not waiting passively; you are putting a pawn on d5 and forcing White to decide how to continue. The position is only one move old, but it already has a clear practical character: you want active play and quick development, while White tries to build an advantage from the extra tempo. The engine’s preferred continuation here is e5, which shows that this is the most important reply to understand in the drill.
What the engine says about the position
Stockfish rates this +0.54, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, but not lost, and the position is still very playable if you know your ideas. The database also shows a very large practical sample: across 2,664,536 games at this exact position, White wins 49.6%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 46.7%. In other words, White scores a bit better, so you should expect to defend accurately and aim for active counterplay.
The most important reply to know
The engine’s best move is e5, and it continues e5 Bf5 c3 e6. That tells you what Black is trying to do: keep the centre under pressure, develop efficiently, and get pieces out without wasting time. If White chooses this line, stay focused on development and piece activity instead of grabbing at the position. The drill is especially useful here because the move is natural, and you need to learn the plan rather than rely on guesswork.
Moves that appear often in practice
The most-played continuations from this position give you a good picture of what you will actually face:
- e5 — 1,410,033 games, White scores 50.2%
- exd5 — 686,503 games, White scores 50.4%
- Nc3 — 368,423 games, White scores 48.1%
- Bb5 — 66,961 games, White scores 49.9%
- f3 — 33,730 games, White scores 42.8%
- Nf3 — 25,118 games, White scores 38.0%
The first four choices are common and sensible, so you should be ready for them. The last two are especially useful for training, because they let you spot when White is drifting into less accurate play.
Watch for the two known mistakes
Two continuations are marked as mistakes in this position. f3 loses about 1.4 pawns, and the better move was e5. Nf3 is even worse, losing about 2.2 pawns, with e5 again being the better move. If White plays either one, do not rush; keep your development clean and punish the looseness by staying active and finishing your setup properly.
Results across 2,664,536 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 1,410,033 | 50.2% |
| exd5 | 686,503 | 50.4% |
| Nc3 | 368,423 | 48.1% |
| Bb5 | 66,961 | 49.9% |
| f3 | 33,730 | 42.8% |
| Nf3 | 25,118 | 38.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but the numbers here do not promise an easy life. Stockfish gives +0.54, which means White has a small edge, and the database also shows White scoring slightly better overall. As Black, you need to know your main ideas and play accurately.
What is the engine’s best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move here is **e5**. It continues **e5 Bf5 c3 e6**, which highlights active development and pressure in the centre. That is the line to understand first in the drill.
Which replies should I expect from White?
The most common continuations are **e5**, **exd5**, **Nc3**, and **Bb5**. Those are the moves you are most likely to meet in practice, so they are the key ones to learn against. The drill helps you recognise them quickly.
Are there any bad moves for White in this position?
Yes. **f3** and **Nf3** are both listed as mistakes. The better move in each case was **e5**, so if White chooses one of those, you should be ready to take advantage of the looseness.
How many games feature the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation position. White wins 49.6%, Black wins 46.7%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.