Hello everyone, and welcome to this new chess project! In this course, we'll explore the Scandinavian Defense from Black's perspective. My goal is to present you with a complete and practical repertoire that provides a reliable response to every logical option White may choose. My name is Maksim Schekachikhin. I'm an International Master with more than ten years of coaching experience, and throughout this course I'll share the ideas and practical concepts that have proven most effective in my own work. Let's get started. Black begins with 1...d5. After this reply, we reach the starting position of the Scandinavian Defense. At the highest level, this opening is generally considered somewhat dubious, as Black violates several basic opening principles - most notably by bringing the queen out early. That said, the Scandinavian is an excellent practical weapon. It often poses unfamiliar problems for your opponent, and many White players are not well prepared to face it. As a result, Black can frequently obtain playable positions while taking the game into less explored territory from the very beginning.