Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit
The Marshall Gambit of the Nimzowitsch Scandinavian is 4.Nc3, a move that hits the d5 queen but leaves d4 to ...Qxd4. Black should take the pawn, while White hopes to use the queen's exposed position to develop with tempo.
- Moves
- 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3
- ECO
- B00
- Engine
- −0.62 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 526 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 47.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After ...Qxd4, play Qe2 and Be3, as in the top engine line, to develop while chasing the queen.
- Use Nf3 to hit the queen again and bring another piece into play with tempo.
- Look at Nb5 to aim at c7 if Black leaves that square weak after the queen retreats.
- Play for quick development and long castling, because the extra pawn is gone and time is your only asset.
Black
- Take with 4...Qxd4, the engine's clear choice; it wins a pawn with no real danger.
- Develop with ...Nf6 and retreat with ...Qd8 after Be3, as the engine line shows.
- Follow with ...e6 and ...Be7 for a solid setup that keeps the extra pawn safe.
- Avoid 4...Qd8 or 4...Qf5, which return to passive positions where White is clearly better.
Plans and pawn structure
This is a dubious gambit: White offers d4 for development. After ...Qxd4, White plays Qe2, Be3 and Nf3 with tempo on the queen, and hopes for tricks on the d-file. Black simply develops with ...Nf6, ...Qd8 and ...e6, castles, and keeps a healthy extra pawn. If Black declines with ...Qd8 or ...Qf5, White gets a big edge, so taking the pawn is the critical test.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.62: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.62 4...Qxd4 5.Qe2 Nf6 6.Be3 Qd8 7.Nf3
- +1.31 4...Qd8 5.d5 Nb8 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.Bc4
- +1.43 4...Qf5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Qa5 7.O-O
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
526 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Black, take with 4...Qxd4 and develop calmly with ...Nf6, ...Qd8 and ...e6. Do not retreat the queen without capturing; that hands White a free lead. White, avoid this line unless you are happy to play a pawn down for some development.
Questions
What are the moves of the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit?
The Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit starts 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3. Its ECO code is B00.
Is the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.62 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 526 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.6%. A dubious gambit for White, and Black should take the pawn and develop without fear.
What is the main idea of the Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Exchange Variation, Marshall Gambit?
White hits the queen with Nc3 and leaves d4 to be taken. Black wins the pawn with ...Qxd4, then retreats the queen and develops calmly to keep the material.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Qxd4, with Qd8 and Qf5 close behind. 4...Qxd4 wins a clean pawn, and Black can retreat the queen later with ...Qd8.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.