Chessy
Scandinavian Modern: play the position as Black
After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6, you reach a position where White has the move and Black has already committed to an active recapture idea. This is the Scandinavian Modern, and the first lesson is simple: you are not equal yet. Stockfish gives White +0.74, which means you are facing a clear, lasting advantage in your opponent's favour. That makes this a useful drill: you need to know the most natural replies, the engine's best answer, and which moves White tends to choose most often.
Play the Scandinavian Modern against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is fighting for
In this line, Black accepts an early structural imbalance in return for active play and quick piece development. Your job is not to sit and hope; it is to meet White's most natural setup with accurate moves and good piece activity. The position is already sharp enough that one careless choice can let White keep the extra comfort shown by the evaluation. The drill helps you feel the position rather than memorise a long branch tree.
The engine's best answer
The engine's best move here is d4, and the listed continuation is d4 Qxd5 Nc3 Qa5. That tells you what Black is aiming for: open lines, active pieces, and a concrete response to White's central expansion. When you play this opening, you should be ready for White to push in the centre and for you to answer with principled development rather than passive defence.
What White usually plays
At this exact position, White most often chooses Nc3 with 8,182,982 games, then c4 with 3,881,895 games, Nf3 with 2,373,615 games, d4 with 2,232,652 games, Bc4 with 965,845 games, and Bb5+ with 362,919 games. The common theme is that White tries to improve quickly and challenge your setup before you finish developing. That means your move order matters: you want to stay alert to the most popular continuations instead of drifting into an easy target.
Moves that need extra care
Two replies are flagged as mistakes here. Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was d4. Bb5+ is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; the better move was Nf3. For your training, this is valuable because it shows which White ideas are less demanding and which ones deserve more respect. When you face these moves in the drill, make sure you recognise the difference between a playable continuation and a small slip.
Results across 18,872,070 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 8,182,982 | 45.5% |
| c4 | 3,881,895 | 45.5% |
| Nf3 | 2,373,615 | 50.0% |
| d4 | 2,232,652 | 51.2% |
| Bc4 | 965,845 | 45.8% |
| Bb5+ | 362,919 | 50.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Modern good for Black?
At this exact position, White is better by +0.74, so Black is not equal yet. Still, the opening is playable and practical if you know the key replies and keep your pieces active.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine's best move here is **d4**. The listed continuation is **d4 Qxd5 Nc3 Qa5**, which shows the kind of active, direct play Black should be ready for.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most played continuation is **Nc3**, followed by **c4**, **Nf3**, **d4**, **Bc4**, and **Bb5+**. Knowing these choices helps you prepare for the moves you will actually see most often in the drill.
Which White moves are marked as mistakes?
**Nc3** is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, while **Bb5+** is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns. In both cases, the better move listed is different, so pay attention to the engine's preferred move order.
How many games feature the Scandinavian Modern?
Over 19 million Lichess games have reached the Scandinavian Modern position. White wins 46.9%, Black wins 49.1%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.