ECO code: A10
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense
The Anglo-Scandinavian Defense arises after the moves 1. c4 d5. This is a somewhat uncommon response by Black to the English Opening, where Black immediately challenges White's control of the center by striking at the c4 pawn with the central pawn push to d5.
Characteristic: The defining feature of this opening is Black's direct and early counterattack on White's flank pawn, aiming to undermine White's influence on the center from the very first move. Unlike more typical English Opening continuations where Black develops flexibly, here Black opts for an immediate central confrontation.
Playing Style: As White, the opening tends to be attacking in nature, as White must decide how to respond to the pawn tension and can seek to maintain or regain central control. Black's move is also somewhat attacking/active, as it contests the center early rather than adopting a purely defensive setup.
Center Control: This opening directly challenges the center. Black's 1...d5 is a central pawn break aimed at contesting White's influence in the center, so the opening definitely involves an early fight over central squares.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 44 - Move #5 white