Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit
The Geschev Gambit is 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 c6, where Black offers a pawn instead of recapturing on d5 at once. Black wants rapid development and central play after dxc6 Nxc6; White can take the pawn or steer back to normal lines with d4 or Nf3.
- Moves
- 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 c6
- ECO
- B02
- Engine
- +0.75 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,410 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 46.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with 4.dxc6 Nxc6, then 5.Nf3 e5 6.Bb5 pins the knight and fights for e4 and d4.
- Follow up with d4 and castling to challenge the e5 pawn; the extra pawn is White's long-term edge.
- Prefer calm play? 4.d4 or 4.Nf3 lets Black recapture on d5 and leads to a level Caro-Kann style position.
Black
- After 4.dxc6 Nxc6, play ...e5 and ...Bd6 or ...Bc5 to build a big center with fast development.
- Castle quickly and use the open d-file and the e5 pawn to restrict White's pieces.
- If White declines with d4, take back on d5 and play ...Bg4 against the f3 knight, as in the engine lines.
Plans and pawn structure
In the accepted line Black is a pawn down but has knights on c6 and f6, a pawn on e5 and bishops ready for d6 or c5. White must finish development and hit the center with d4 at the right moment, after which Black's compensation can fade. If White declines with d4 or Nf3, Black regains d5 with ...cxd5 and the game turns into a quiet Caro-Kann style structure where ...Bg4 and ...Nc6 pressure d4.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.75: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.75 4.dxc6 Nxc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.Bb5 Bd6
- +0.02 4.d4 cxd5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3
- 0.00 4.Nf3 cxd5 5.d4 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,410 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Taking with 4.dxc6 is the critical test and keeps an extra pawn; develop with Nf3 and Bb5 and castle fast. If you want a quiet game, 4.d4 cxd5 is fine and takes the sting out of the gambit. Either way, do not delay castling once the e-file opens.
Questions
What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit?
The Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit starts 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 c6. Its ECO code is B02.
Is the Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.75 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 1,410 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.3%. A fun practical gambit for active Black players, but a careful White who develops and castles keeps an edge.
What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit?
Black offers a pawn with ...c6 to get rapid development and a strong center after dxc6 Nxc6 and ...e5. White can keep the pawn and try to consolidate, or decline with d4 and reach a calm Caro-Kann type game.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is dxc6, with d4 and Nf3 close behind. 4.dxc6 accepts the offer, and White stays a pawn up after ...Nxc6 while Black gets open lines.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.