Chess Openings Lab
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Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation

The Richter Variation is 2...Nf6 3.d4 g6, where Black prepares a kingside fianchetto before regaining the d5 pawn. White can hold the pawn with c4 and develop, while Black hopes the g7 bishop and quick castling give play against d4 in return.

Moves
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 g6
ECO
B01
Engine
+1.10 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
259 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play c4 to protect d5, then Nf3, Nc3 and Be2, exactly as the top engine line develops.
  • If Black recaptures with the queen, kick it with c4 and Nc3 to gain time.
  • Bb5+ is another try: after ...Nbd7, Be2 and c4 make the knight on d5 retreat.
  • Keep d4 well protected, since the g7 bishop and a knight on c6 will aim at it.

Black

  • Fianchetto with ...Bg7 and castle, then pin with ...Bg4 to remove a defender of d4.
  • Play ...c6 to open the c-file and try to remove the d5 pawn.
  • If White plays Nf3 first, take back with ...Qxd5 and retreat the queen to d6 after c4.
  • The quieter ...Nxd5 order can transpose to normal Scandinavian fianchetto lines, with the knight centralized and no pawn deficit.

Plans and pawn structure

If White holds the pawn with c4, Black gets a Gruenfeld-like setup: g7 bishop on the long diagonal, a pin with ...Bg4, and ...c6 to break up White's d5 pawn. White wants Nc3, Nf3, Be2 and castling, keeping the extra pawn and using space. If Black wins d5 back, the structure becomes White pawn on d4 against no Black d-pawn, and Black's plan is to hit d4 with ...Nc6 and ...Bg7.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.10: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.10 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Nc3 Bg4
  2. +0.95 4.Nf3 Qxd5 5.c4 Qd6 6.Be2 Bg7
  3. +0.86 4.Bb5+ Nbd7 5.Be2 Nxd5 6.c4 N5f6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

259 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.2%.

1600–199942.7%
2000 and up51.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Modern Variation, Wing Gambit4.c4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, push c4 and develop with Nf3 and Nc3. Black's fianchetto does not win back the pawn by force, and your space keeps an edge. Avoid early queen moves or grabbing more material on the kingside, which give Black time for ...Bg4 and ...c6.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3 g6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation?

The Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 g6. Its ECO code is B01.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.10 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 259 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.2%. A setup for players who like fianchetto structures, but it hands White a comfortable choice of keeping the pawn, so Black needs to know the follow-up.

What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation?

Black delays winning back d5 to set up ...Bg7 and castle. White can keep the pawn with c4, so Black depends on pressure against d4 and the ...c6 break.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c4, with Nf3 and Bb5+ close behind. 4.c4 defends d5 with a pawn and gains space, so Black must find compensation with ...Bg7, ...Bg4 and ...c6.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.