Caissa Codex
B01

Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Wing Gambit

Chess diagram: Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Wing Gambit after 4…b5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

1,072 games: White 49.3% / Draw 4.1% / Black 46.5%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.57 White is clearly better

Even so, Black scores 48.6% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.

Best play: 5. Nc3 bxc4 6. Bxc4 Bg7 7. Nf3 c6 8. dxc6 Nxc6 9. Bb5 Bd7

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Wing Gambit (ECO B01, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation, reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 g6 4. c4 b5 (4 moves).

In 1,072 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.3%, Black 46.5% and 4.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. b3, in 51% of those games.

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How to play against the Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Wing Gambit

5. cxb5 scores best for White: 56.1%, with White winning 52.2% and Black 40.0% of 115 games. The most played, 5. b3, scores 50.9% in 542 games, and 5. Nc3 scores lowest: 48.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 5. Nc3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation, Wing Gambit (B01)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/scandinavian-defense-modern-variation-wing-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/scandinavian-defense-modern-variation-wing-gambit