Scandinavian Defense · B01

Anderssen Counterattack, Orthodox Attack

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5 5. dxe5 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd2

The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it. ...d5 challenges e4 on move one; Black accepts an early queen sortie for a rock-solid Caro-Kann-style structure with no theory debt.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Scandinavian Defense.
• 2. exd5 Takes the pawn on d5, toward the centre.
• 2... Qxd5 Recaptures the pawn on d5. Theory calls this the Mieses-Kotroc Variation.

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