Scandinavian Defence Powerbook 2023

It is also possible to make nice discoveries with the Scandinavian Defence Powerbook 2023. a) The Portuguese Variation 2...Nf6 seems to many to be very suspect, but after the most frequently played 3.d4 Black has in 3...Bg4!? a statistically striking reply. The subsequent main moves are then 4.f3 Bf5 5.Bb5+ Nbd7 6.c4 e6 7.dxe6 Bxe6

White apparently is a clear pawn up, but the statistics from the Powerbook cannot back that up. However, White has several good options to deviate (above all 5.g4 or one move earlier simply 4.Nf3 or even on the third move). b) The "actual Scandinavian" continues, however, with 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3. Now, it is a long time since 3...Qd6 enjoyed the status of a secret weapon; the move does enjoy the better statistics, though it is always necessary to bear in mind that 3...Qd6 was preferred by stronger players and engines. After 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3

Black must decide whether to prevent the possible Nc3-b5 (5...c6 and 5...a6 are nowadays almost equally popular). In the engine room, however, 5...g6 dominates and after 6.Nb5 the move 6...Qb6 is more popular than 6...Qd8. Of course, in both cases Black should be far from equality. This can be investigated here on the basis of over 4500 games.