Scandinavian Defense · B01

Zilbermints Gambit

1. e4 d5 2. b4

...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 3 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. b4 Opens the c1-a3 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Zilbermints Gambit: development and initiative over material.

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