[Event "Main Line - Marshall Fianchetto Variation (4.c4 Nb6)"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 {Scandinavian Defense (ECO B01). We attack e4 immediately. White is almost forced to take.} 2. exd5 Nf6 {Modern Variation (2...Nf6): we develop the Knight instead of recapturing with the Queen. THEORY: recognized alternative to 2...Qxd5, played by GMs like Matthias Blubaum. Advantage: no tempo loss with Qd5 then Queen retreat.} 3. d4 {THEORY: White's main move, played in ~70% of games. Occupy the center.} Nxd5 {Recapture the pawn. The Knight is well centralized on d5.} 4. c4 {White chases the Knight and gains space. THEORY: the most ambitious and most played move.} Nb6 {Marshall Variation: the most active retreat. THEORY: consensus, recommended by the majority of books. 4...Nf6 (retreat to f6) is also possible but more passive.} 5. Nf3 g6 {THE KEY PLAN: Fianchetto setup! Recommended by GM Nico Zwirs in his ChessBase repertoire. The Bishop will go to g7 to control the long diagonal a1-h8 and put pressure on d4.} 6. Nc3 Bg7 {The Bishop is a monster on g7. It targets d4 and the entire queenside through the diagonal. Structure comparable to the Grunfeld.} 7. Be2 O-O {King is safe.} 8. O-O Nc6 {Attack d4! Full plan: ...d6 (solid), ...Be6 (develop the last Bishop), then ...c5 (break White's center). TYPICAL MISTAKE: playing ...e5 too early because it leaves a hole on d5. Prefer ...c5 which attacks d4 without creating a weakness.} *

[Event "Secondary Line - 4.Nf3 (without c4)"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Nf3 {Less ambitious than 4.c4. White develops without chasing the Knight. THEORY: 2nd most played move after 4.c4.} g6 {Same fianchetto setup! That's the beauty of our repertoire: we ALWAYS play the same plan regardless of White's move.} 5. Be2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O {Comfortable position. If White plays c4 later, we retreat ...Nb6 and transpose to the main line. Plan: ...c5 to attack d4, ...Nc6, ...Bg4 or ...Be6.} *

[Event "3.Nf3 without d4"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 {White develops without playing d4 - less ambitious.} Nxd5 {Recapture the pawn.} 4. d4 {White usually ends up playing d4.} g6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O {Identical to the other lines. Same plan: ...c5, ...Nc6. The advantage of our setup: we play the same structure against almost everything!} *

[Event "3.c4 - Icelandic Gambit (ECO B01)"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 {White tries to hold the pawn with c4. THEORY: rare but legitimate move.} c6 {Attack the pawn chain! We sacrifice a pawn for rapid development.} 4. dxc6 Nxc6 {ICELANDIC GAMBIT (also called Portuguese Gambit): pawn sacrifice for explosive development and the initiative. THEORY: objectively White is slightly better with perfect play, but in PRACTICE it is devastating, especially below 1500 Elo where White doesn't know the theory.} 5. Nf3 e5 {Big center! We threaten ...e4 chasing the Knight.} 6. Nc3 Bc5 {Direct pressure on f2. Plan: O-O, ...d6, ...Bg4 (pin the Knight). WARNING: this is a gambit, you MUST play actively. Don't trade pieces unnecessarily - keep the initiative!} *

[Event "2.e5 - Advance (common among beginners)"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. e5 {Advance Variation. THEORY: considered inferior because the e5 pawn attacks nothing and becomes a target. Very common among beginners who love pushing pawns.} c5 {Counter-attack in the center! We undermine the base of the pawn chain (eventual d4). THEORY: main response.} 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 Bg4 {Pin the f3 Knight which defends BOTH e5 AND d4! Plan: ...e6 to solidify, ...Nge7 (NOT Nf6 because e5 blocks it!), ...f6 to undermine e5. When e5 falls, our position is superior.} *

[Event "2.Nc3 or 2.d3 - passive moves"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 {Defends e4 but doesn't take d5. THEORY: inferior to 2.exd5. Played sometimes at lower levels.} dxe4 {Take! We win the center.} 3. Nxe4 Nf6 {Develop while attacking the Knight. THEORY: main move.} 4. Nxf6+ exf6 {We have the bishop pair and the open e-file for our Rook. The f6-f7 structure looks ugly but the Bishops compensate amply. Plan: ...Bd6, ...O-O, ...Re8 with initiative.} *

[Event "2.d3 - ultra passive"]
[White "Adversaire"]
[Black "Modern Scandinavian"]
[Result "*"]
[Orientation "black"]

1. e4 d5 2. d3 {Ultra-passive. THEORY: White gives up all ambition in the opening.} e5 {Big center e5+d5! We dominate. Develop: ...Nf6, ...Nc6, ...Bc5. White has no initiative. Plan: complete development and enjoy the space advantage.} *
