Is the Chessbook Scandinavian Defense repertoire free?

Yes. Studying it on Chessbook is free, and so is the PGN download, which needs no account.

Can I download it as a PGN?

Yes: https://chessbook.com/courses/scandinavian.pgn?band=1400-1600. Pick your rating first to download the version for your level. It imports into Lichess studies, ChessBase and other tools.

Why does it depend on my rating?

The main Black choices stay the same, but opponents at different ratings play different moves. Each rating's version prepares for the replies you will actually face, using millions of games between players at that level.

How much does it cover?

Every opponent reply that comes up in at least 1 game in 200 at your rating, picking lines that score well and are easy to remember.

Scandinavian Defense repertoire for Black

By Chessbook. Free, with a PGN download.

Your rating

The core of the repertoire is the same at every rating. Enter your rating to maximize performance against your opponents.

Tuned for Lichess 1400-1600: 83 moves.

Start studying Download PGN

Free. The PGN needs no account; studying opens in Chessbook.

Show the PGN

[Event "Chessbook Scandinavian Defense repertoire (1400-1600)"]
[Site "https://chessbook.com/courses/scandinavian"]
[Annotator "Chessbook"]
[Result "*"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 ( 2. e5 c5 3. d4 ( 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 ( 4. c3 Bg4 ) 4... Bg4 ) (
3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 ( 4. Nf3 ) 4... cxd4 5. cxd4 Qb6 6. Nf3 Bg4 ) ( 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3
Bg4 ) ( 3. Bb5+ Bd7 ) 3... cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 e6 ) ( 2. Nf3 dxe4 3. Ng5 (
3. Ne5 Nd7 ) 3... e5 4. Nxe4 ( 4. d3 exd3 5. Bxd3 Be7 ) 4... Nc6 ) ( 2. Nc3 d4
3. Nce2 Nc6 4. d3 e5 ) ( 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 Bf5 ) ( 2. d3 dxe4 )
2... Qxd5 3. Nc3 ( 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 ( 4. Nc3 Qh5 5. Be2 Nf6 6. h3 Nc6 )
4... Nf6 5. O-O ( 5. Nc3 Qh5 ) 5... Nc6 ) ( 3. d4 Nc6 4. Nf3 ( 4. Nc3 Qxd4 )
4... Bg4 5. Be2 ( 5. Nc3 Qh5 ) 5... O-O-O ) ( 3. c4 Qe4+ ) ( 3. Qf3 Qe6+ )
3... Qa5 4. Nf3 ( 4. d4 c6 5. Bd2 ( 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd2 ( 6. Bc4 Bg4 ) ( 6. Bd3
Bg4 ) 6... Qb6 ) ( 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nf3 ) 5... Qb6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 ( 7. Be3 Qxb2
) 7... Nf6 ) ( 4. d3 Nf6 5. Bd2 ( 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd2 Bg4 7. Be2 ( 7. Ne4 Qb6 )
7... O-O-O 8. O-O e6 ) 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 ( 6. Ne4 Qb6 7. Nxf6+ exf6 ) ) ( 4. Bc4
Nf6 5. Nf3 ( 5. d3 Bg4 6. f3 Bh5 ) ( 5. Qf3 Nc6 ) 5... Nc6 6. O-O ( 6. d3 Bg4
7. O-O Nd4 ) ( 6. d4 Bg4 ) 6... Bg4 7. h3 ( 7. d3 ) 7... h5 ) ( 4. b4 Qxb4
5. Nb5 ( 5. Rb1 Qa5 6. Rb5 Qa6 ) 5... Na6 ) 4... Nf6 5. Bc4 ( 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bd2 (
6. Bc4 ) 6... Bg4 7. Be2 ( 7. Ne4 Qb6 8. Nxf6+ exf6 ) 7... e6 ) ( 5. d3 ) (
5. Be2 Nc6 6. O-O Bg4 ) ( 5. Bb5+ c6 ) *

About this repertoire

The Scandinavian with 2...Qxd5: an easy-to-learn answer to 1.e4.

Chessbook's Scandinavian Defense repertoire for Black, built from millions of games between players at your rating. It covers the moves your opponents actually play, to a 1-in-200 coverage target, and picks lines that score well and are easy to remember.

It's free: study it on Chessbook with spaced repetition, or download the PGN.