Exercise 1.1Find the move
Black to move
White has played 3.d4. How does Black take back the pawn?
1
A Black Repertoire: Scandinavian and QGD · Kapilash Chess Academy
Your Repertoire in One Lesson
The Modern Scandinavian and the QGD
In this lesson you will learn
- Why this repertoire suits club and rated players
- The Modern Scandinavian: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 ♘f6
- The Queen's Gambit Declined against 1.d4
- The common plan: develop quickly, then challenge the centre
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
1.1 Two Solid Defences
This repertoire gives Black a clear answer to every first move. Against 1.e4 you play the Modern Scandinavian: 1...d5 2.exd5 ♘f6. Instead of taking back with the queen, Black develops a knight and recaptures on d5 with it. Against 1.d4 you play the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD), one of the most respected defences in chess history. Against 1.c4 and 1.♘f3 you use the same QGD setup.
- Fast development. In both openings Black's pieces come out quickly, and the king castles early.
- Clear plans. You know what to do after the opening: challenge White's centre with ...c5 or ...e5 and use the open lines.
- Little forced theory. One mistake rarely loses the game. Understanding counts for more than memory.
Diagram 1.1White to move
Example 1.1 · The Modern Scandinavian
Black has played 2...♘f6 instead of 2...♕xd5. The pawn on d5 cannot be held for long.
Black takes back on d5 with the knight, develops the light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain with ...♗g4, and then plays ...e6, ...♗e7 and castles. The pawn structure resembles a French Defence, but Black's 'bad' bishop is already active — a big improvement.
Diagram 1.2White to move
Example 1.2 · The Queen's Gambit Declined
The Tartakower Variation of the QGD. Black's position is compact and solid.
Black's bishop goes to b7, the d5-pawn holds the centre, and the ...c5 break will free the position later. The QGD is built on one idea: hold d5 with ...e6 and ...♘f6, finish development, then strike with ...c5.
A word about the ScandinavianEngines give White a small edge in most openings, and the Scandinavian is no exception. In practice it is a fighting, comfortable defence: Black knows the structures well and White often has to think for himself early.
Remember
- Against 1.e4: 1...d5 2.exd5 ♘f6 and ...♘xd5.
- Against 1.d4: 1...d5 2.c4 e6 — the Queen's Gambit Declined.
- Develop quickly, castle, then challenge the centre with ...c5 or ...e5.
- Against 1.c4 and 1.♘f3 use the same ...d5 and ...e6 setup.
Exercises · Lesson 1
Each exercise comes from a position in this repertoire. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 1.2Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 13.f3. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.3Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 13.f4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.4Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.5Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 11.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.6Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 12.♘h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.7Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 12.♗a6. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.8Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 6.♗c4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.9Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 6.♗f4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.10Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 11.♗h4. How does Black punish it?
Exercise 1.11Find the move
Black to move
White has just played 10.♘e4. How does Black punish it?