Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation

Chess opening · ECO B01 · 4 half-moves

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6

The Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation is reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6. It is White's move in the position shown.

It branches from the Scandinavian Defense with 2. exd5 Nf6.

How often it is played

The Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation and its variations appeared in 0.84% of games — 25,182 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 61 of the openings listed here.

Results

White won 47%, 3.8% 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 +0.72 — a clear 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.

Main continuations

Check your own games

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