The Basman? What's that?

And sometimes the top players don't want to play long theoretical games, or just don't want to play an open game/closed game, sharp game/quiet game etc.
Today Adams used the King's Indian Attack against Topalov, although the KIA isn't considered the best way to attack against the Sicilian... but he just didn't feel like playing long theoretical lines today, I guess.

About 3/4 years ago Andrew Martin, in Chess, wrote an article on this line and called it the Patzer variation - thinking it playable for Black. But that was before the Ivanchuk game.....

Of course it is impossible for Black to use as you cannot asssume that White would not know or find the critical variation that loses fro Black.

Why not? Then no one could ever play any dubious refuted gambits either, like the Morra Gambit, From Gambit, Goring Gambit, Evans Gambit... All are refuted, but white still gets a decent score with it. Just because only few know the refutations.

I'm not ready to call the Evan's Gambit refuted. But yes, I agree, your average tournament player isn't going to know this line, so it's definitely playable. I mean you posted a game against a 2100 who didn't know the line right?

He already deviated on move 5 (which is the first move starting from 4... e5). Like I said, up to 8. a3 one might find the moves with pure thinking. But to see 9. Bb5+... well... Anderssen came with the idea of 4... e5?! in 1858 in a match with Paul Morphy, so if it were a trivial refutation, Ivanchuk wouldn't have been the first to find this refutation in 1987(!!). Over a 100 years passed without a real refutation.

And ok, the Evans may not be refuted, but it's not considered very good for white either at the highest level. It was just an example to illustrate that many players still play "refuted" openings with success.

When I first started playing chess and faced the Scandinavian with 2....Qxd4 3.Nc3 I thought good, the Queen is out too early (breaking an opening principle to develop minor pieces first) and I can chase this Queen around to my advantage. Then I have found Black could move the Queen to good effect if I was too concerned with chasing it and I have lost several games doing so. I have now noticed most higher rated players as white just complete development and do not chase the Queen.
I find it a challenging opening to play as I feel almost obliged to go after the Queen too early, but really I need to patiently develop.
I have yet to find my solution to this and Black players who play this usually know what their moves are, as I try and find out at the time!
Then there is the issue that black can play either 3...Qa5 or 3...Qd6 (if Qd8 then I believe as white I get a tempi advantage!).Also it gets interesting with the Icelandic, Portugese and Ryder gambit variations!!
Well it is a serious (and fun?!) opening and I don't agree in theory that it is refuted, discredited or unplayable for black.

I wish I had a good system as white against it! I will continue searching for this...........any more thoughts or ideas anyone?

I don't think it's refuted either. I just think that the 4... e5?! line is refuted (1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 e5?!), bu the normal Scandinavian lines are playable for black.

If you need an antidote as white, you could play the main line (1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. Bc4 Bf5 7. Bd2 e6 8. Qe2 Bb4 9. a3 Nbd7 10. O-O-O) where white probably has a more comfortable position, or play the modern main line (8. Nd5 Qd8 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Qe2) where white has threats using the e-file pin.

Indeed, going after the queen too much only gets white in trouble. Usually the queen can't be trapped anyway, so just develop as usual with d4, Nf3, Bc4 etc.

Hi Phobetor

Thanks for your reply. In the modern main line you give,if black plays 9....gxNf6 then the g file gets opened for blacks rook and then black can develop a threatening kingside attack.(downside for black is the poorish pawn structure thart results).

What is your recommended line against 3...Qd6?

Anyway I will take your advice and try both modern and trad mainlines vs 3...Qa5 and see if I do any better than previously!

If 9... gxf6 then I think white's a little better if he uses a g3-Bg2 setup, when the open g-file is no danger for white anymore. Also, the bishop is very well-placed on g2. If white doesn't play that, then he can indeed get in some trouble along the g-file.

Against 3... Qd6 I think the most solid setup is g3, Bg2 and Bf4, when another advantage of g3 appears: it defends f4, so white can activate his dark-squared bishop with Bf4.

I have been playing the Scandinavian for many years now, and sometimes i try 4...e5 to surprise opponents.

I played it this week in a tournament. both players are rated 1950ish.

1.e4 d5
2.exd5 Qxd5
3.Nc3 Qa5
4.d4 e5
5.Nf3 Bg4
6.Be2 Nc6
7.Nxe5 Bxe2
8.Nxc6? Bxd1?

So I lost a pawn and the game later on, later I saw I should have played 8...Qxc3! winning a piece.

Anyway, I think 4...e5 is good as a surprise weapon, If people KNOW you will be playing this variation, it's very risky. In the end I play it much less nowadays, since i get very good results from the mainlines.