Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation
Chess opening · ECO B02 · 4 half-moves
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5
The Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation is reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Alekhine Defense with 2. Nc3 d5.
How often it is played
The Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation and its variations appeared in 0.18% of games — 5,437 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 196 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 46%, 4.5% were drawn and Black won 49%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.39 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation | 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 | 0.33% |
| King's Knight Opening | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 | 15% |
| Sicilian Defense | 1. e4 c5 | 9.6% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit | 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6 | 0.04% |
| Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Myers Gambit | 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5 | 0.00% |
| Alekhine Defense: Spielmann Gambit | 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7 4. e6 | 0.00% |
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