The Scandinavian Defense Revisited: A Cold Blooded Counter to 1. e4!

(Hardback, New edition)

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The fundamental purpose of Black's aggressive and provocative move with the d-pawn

is to create immediate central tension and to exploit the latent power of the

queen on her starting square. Remember Lasker's observation: "Black's idea is to

make use of the great fighting power of the queen in the opening"

Black's audacious pawn move effectively compels White to lose a tempo by capturing

the pawn, creating an imbalance in the center. Black's strategy seeks the dissolution

of the center, as the immediate asymmetry reduces the significance of

So, is the Scandinavian, in essence, a 'refutation' of 1 e4, as

Black has already activated his queen far ahead of his opponent, while weakening

White's kingside pawn structure Isn't White essentially punished for aiming for

early kingside development with his first move

Structurally, Black has achieved an ideal exchange, andthe core of the Scandinavian

lies in the control of the d5-square. Black must, under no circumstances, allow

White to support a pawn thrust with d4-d5, as this typically means White has effectively

countered Black's pawn structure both technically and psychologically.

Author Bio

Thomas Engqvist (born 1963) is an International Master and a highly respected figure in the chess world, bringing nearly five decades of experience as a player, coach, and author. Prior to this book, he wrote eleven others, known for their clear explanations and instructional depth across a broad range of chess topics. Engqvist earned bronze medals at the Swedish Championship in both 1992 and 1993narrowly missing the national title each time, with a final-round win being the only difference. His deep knowledge of the game and strong pedagogical skills have led him to coach players at the world championship level, both in junior and correspondence chess. With a lifelong dedication to chess education and a strong competitive track record, Engqvists books offer valuable insights for players looking to enhance their strategic understanding and sharpen their practical skills. In his first book for Thinkers Publishing, he effortlessly showcased his finest work, highlighting his enduring talent as a chess writer.