How to Combat the Modern Scandinavian (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6) | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1339

[@marlowe5511]

John and the Scandi, a lifelong love affair like no other

[@eggu1828]

John: e4 Oppo: d5 John: you are playing with forces beyond your ken

[@svit1971]

John’s mastery of the Scandi shines through. Such a great lesson. Can’t wait for the course!

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks, Suresh!

[@FriendlyHaymaker]

You've been a inspiration and helped me grow a LOT john. i've been trying scandi every game i get after meeting you and i'm loving it everytime. simple yet effective and sometimes aggresive. i have yet to learn the indepth moves traps,non-book moves after scandi setup but i hope to know more SCANDI GANG FOR THE WINN

[@joallen2004]

These videos are so helpful for having a proper thought process during a game it’s my favorite part about these videos! Thank you John!! 🙏

[@foxskinn]

John, I always look forward to your videos. They are so thorough and informative showcasing your thought process and also pointing out potential threats from your opponent. I appreciate it!

[@THH147]

Btw, Magnus joined Team Scandi in all his 3 black games against e4 in the late Titled Tuesday yesterday, and he won them all!

[@goldenlion3184]

It would be fun to see JB analyze those!

[@walterlotte4215]

@@goldenlion3184 Thought the same. :)

[@carson784]

I really like the board/website theme you chose, it fits your presentation well

[@a11pu1poj]

oh no john 'refuting' my main black opening. No choice but to figure out how to refute the refutation lol. Great content as always John.

[@robertgelblum5154]

Simple chess but very instructive. I imagine that many viewers of your videos will find a cornucopia of practical advice, that they can immediately apply in their games, contained within this video.

[@SamuelSmithJ]

Classy scene layout. I can smell the craftsmanship. Levy can keep the teens, Rosen can keep the trapwhores, and Danya can keep the women - it shall henceforce be known that John Bartholomew makes chess videos for men.

[@walterlotte4215]

Gotta love seeing the Scadi. I'm always happy when people play it against me. :)

[@westofwahpeton4692]

“Let’s turn off the feedback, I always find that annoying.” Me too John, Me too. 😂

[@johnstevenson9956]

I saw that last game. Lots of "wow" moments in that one. After a long and healthy skepticism, I finally decided to try the Scandinavian. Even though it just never goes the way I expect, so far I've had good luck with it. I'll keep working on it.

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Best wishes in your initial forays into the Scandi!

[@Gadzinisko]

"You dare to use my own spells against me, Michael?"

[@fredkaboom]

Lol I actually paused during the opening of the game to figure out why white can't play c4 in the normal Scandi. Glad to see you address it in the analysis. Instead of Nc3 attacking the queen, what other moves for white in the Scandi give you the most trouble?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Haha nice! 😀 3.Nf3 is a pretty good option; White obtains a position similar to the game here if Black doesn't know how to vigorously attack the center. It can also be a universal weapon for White; that is, you don't need separate systems against 3...Qa5, 3...Qd6, and 3...Qd8.

[@weareanonymas]

What happened to your Lichess plays streams? Missing them, thanks for making great content!

[@CarmenRivera-cp2ys]

Hi John! , Qa5 Scandi player myself but considering the Modern Scandi against opponents who play the Leonhardt, 3. Nf3 or 3. Nc3 with 4. h3. Do you think it might be a logical wrinkle against such opponents?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Hello! Interesting wrinkle :) Personally, I'm happy to play against the Leonhardt Gambit, because I think White may only barely generate compensation for the pawn. 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.h3 also doesn't strike me as anything to be afraid of - any particular reason you don't like this? All that said, Modern Scandi could be a nice surprise weapon against aggressively-minded opponents 👍

[@CarmenRivera-cp2ys]

@@JohnBartholomewChess I'm honored by your reply! Um against 4. h3 I have difficulty getting my Queens bishop to be gainfully employed when White meets ...Bf5 with d3 and I don't too much like the Rubinstein setup the engine recommends with 4...e6 or 4...c5 because I haven't found satisfactory study materials for it. That said I like 4. d4 Nf6 5. h3 Ne4 or 5...Bf5. Will your Chessable course provide a lot of coverage of Leonhardt? Right now the only version of that I'm comfortable with is the one where White plays Nb5 instead of Rb1 where there ...Na6 and looking for ...Qe4+ works out great often

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

@@CarmenRivera-cp2ys Yes, I'd just play ...Ng8-f6 and ...Bc8-f5. No big deal if White plays d2-d3; the bishop has less scope then, true, but Black establishes it outside the chain and can play in classic Scandi style with ...c7-c6 and ...e7-e6. Should be fun! Also, yes indeed - my upcoming course has extensive of the Leonhardt Gambit, especially with the main line, 4.Rb1. I mostly recommend a mix of ...a7-a6 and ...g7-g6 (kingside fianchetto), depending upon what White does!

[@CarmenRivera-cp2ys]

@@JohnBartholomewChess Thanks a bunch! Looking forward to your course and love your content 🙏

[@Thomsethomse]

Hi John! Greetings from Scandinavia (Denmark)! I just wanted to tell you, how much I love your videos, your presence and calm style of narration. Thank you so much for putting in the time and effort on an almost daily basis. Watching your videos is an island of calm and serenity in my very busy and hectic daily life as a musician and record label owner. Can’t thank you enough! What’s the best way to support and send some cash your way?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Hey Thomas, THANKS SO MUCH!! Really pleased that you enjoy the content, and I appreciate your offer of support, too! If you look in the description of my video, there is a "Support the channel" option on Streamlabs or via PayPal. Many thanks in advance if you decide to donate - cheers!

[@Thomsethomse]

@@JohnBartholomewChess Thank you, will look into it! Keep up the good work!

[@vitahast]

there is a funny trap in the bishop b5 line, where after you dance back they play bishop g5 then you recheck again with bishop b5 and they block with pawn c6 and now you have the queen and bishop both hanging but white is better

[@michaelmorris4515]

Thoughts on the Tennyson Gambit? (1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 )

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Hard to make viable for White - I think it's pretty bad. 2...dxe4 3.Ng5 Bf5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Nc6 with ...Nc6-d4 is excellent for Black.

[@michaelmorris4515]

@@JohnBartholomewChess (I know you know this, but for other readers) Qe2 is the cute trap line that looks for Qb5 forking b pawn, King and bishop, trying to bait a queen defense of the extra pawn with Qd4. Nc6 meets those threats, but under 2000 it's almost never played. It's also not White's best which is 5. d3 going cleanly a pawn down. The position is still comfortable for black if he holds his nerves and doesn't get greedy.

[@WHAT-gm1xm]

Hey man I am stuck in 1200 elo but my puzzle rating is 2100+ how to improve chess game

[@danielbulgarelli935]

Is this Michael siebel who started twitch?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Is this a question to me? 😂

[@dartplayer170]

9.Nb5! was missed. After 7...Qe6+ black was in a royal fork position and failed to defend against it with 8...Nbd7. 8...c6 was correct. Black could defend the fork still with 9...Rc8 but then 10.Nxa7 wins a pawn.

[@kevinberg84]

Hey, John. This is guys. I love your videos, but please reduce your mic input level; your audio is clipping pretty heavily in this one

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Thanks for the feedback! Been trying to troubleshoot it - hope the next video will be better.

[@bbbrown3408]

i wanna lose moves

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

See "Triangulation"

[@xx3868]

NEVER bring your Queen out at the start and i learned this so many games the hard way and am similar ranking to his opponent. You will end up having it chased all over the board or lose it!! All top players leave the queen till the middle game or attack with it when the other pieces have set up a opening or check mate ect. The most powerful piece like the driver in golf can be your best asset or your worst nightmare!!

[@goldenlion3184]

Looks like you have never faced the Scandi?! Never tried it against e4?! Oh, the adrenaline rush of running your queen around to good effect can't be beat! (and you beat most of your opponents if you know how to use it!) 😉