Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › Scandinavian Defense › Modern Variation › Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation › Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit › Elbow Variation
Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Elbow Variation
Overview
Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, Elbow Variation is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO B01 in the Semi-Open Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
It begins with 8 plies and takes 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ c6 to reach the canonical position.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Scandinavian Defense: Portuguese Gambit, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- B01
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 8
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
16,708 games · White 55.8% / Draw 5.6% / Black 38.6%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| dxc6 | 15,537 | |
| Be2 | 895 | |
| f3 | 248 | |
| Qd3 | 10 | |
| d6 | 8 | |
| Bxc6+ | 3 | |
| Bf1 | 2 | |
| f4 | 2 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:46:15
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