When opening a chess game with the Scandinavian, 1.e4 d5, Black decides on the very first move where the battle will be fought – a significant gain for any competitive player. Grandmaster Christian Bauer is one of the world’s leading experts on the Scandinavian and in this book he reveals the secrets of his over-the-board success.

Bauer focuses particularly on 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5, the established main line of the Scandinavian. An understanding of the move order nuances is essential, and Bauer is an ideally-qualified guide.