The Scandanavian… Grr!

I play on GameKnot because I'm looking for good, complex, bookish games…not center counter shite! But what do I get: 1. e4 d5!

Well, I guess I can still get bookish… Here's an excerpt from an excellent article on the Scandinavian Defense from Logical Chess:

Attacking the Center: 1. e4 d5!

From http://www.logicalchess.com/resources/openings/cc/:

The Center Counter Game or Scandinavian Defense dates from the 15th century. It and the French Defense are the oldest asymmetrical King-pawn openings. A History of Chess, by H. J. Murray (1913) reports that the Center Counter was first documented in a manuscript by the Spanish author, Luis Ramires Lucena around 1435. This Center Counter Game is one of the earliest recorded games.

Over the centuries, the Center Counter was often criticized because of the (usually) early exposure of Black's queen and associated loss of time in the opening phase of the game. As a result, to this day, the defense is often condemned by analysts, and is taboo to many players. However, there exists no clear refute to Black's best play. Therefore, its claim as a regular opening is recognized by strong players. For example, this Center Counter opening gave Black the win against a world champion, and this game gave Black good chances in a world championship match.

The Center Counter is an immediate attempt by Black to aggressively cross White's opening plans. Black dictates the opening line of play from the start. Therefore, White's opening preparation along other lines is wasted. White must dance to Black's tune. Thus, Black often scores a psychological mini-victory in the opening by playing the Center Counter.

The "take no prisoners" aggressive, semi-open, and asymmetrical lines of the Center Counter opening offer few drawing chances for either side. Let's explore the main line of play according to current theory.

The moves 1. e4 d5 are the only moves necessary to claim the Center Counter opening. Attempts by White to transpose into other openings such as the French via 2. e5 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 threatening Nxe5, or 2. Nc3 d4 give Black no problems.

The sharpest and most common reply to 1. e4 d5 is 2. exd5. Note here that White has moved his King-pawn twice; thus briefly losing the first-move opening advantage. Black's best is then probably 2…Qxd5. However, Black might try 2…Nf6 making the Center Counter a true gambit. However, Black has not found an entirely adequate response in this line to 3. c4 or 3. Bb5+ or even 3. d5. Still, the gambit creates many opportunities for White to go wrong in sharp play. See example games Popel and Ang.

The choice of whether it is better to play 2…Qxd5 or 2…Nf6 was and continues to be a source of endless debate in the Center Counter. Every few decades, a new innovation breaths life into one variation or the other only to be refuted by another innovation, and so on. There appears to be no consensus throughout history. Then as always, the player with the most knowledge of the opening lines will prevail.

For now, the Center Counter main line of play is 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5. (The line 3. d4 e5! gives black no troubles.) Black achieves a position where his Queen on a5 avoids attack and still influences the center. Black must play c6 eventually in most lines to support the center, guard b5, and provide a back door escape for the Queen, should it come under attack.

Black can play 3…Qd8?! instead of 3…Qa5. The move 3…Qd8?! undevelops a piece with no obvious refute. The shock value of such a move can and often does give black excellent play. However, such a bold insult to one of the most fundamental and logical opening principles must be refuted. The most common plan for white against 3…Qd8?! is to castle opposite of black and launch an attack with superior opening development. For example, let's see how Fischer dealt with this line. Here is another example of how desperate it can get for black if he is not alert.

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