The Portuguese Gambit, Lusophobe Variation is a variation of the Scandinavian Defense, catalogued as ECO B01. The line runs 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. Be2, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and d5. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after five moves. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.
On the Scandinavian Defense generally: Black immediately challenges White's e4 pawn. Simple to learn but strategically deep.
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The Portuguese Gambit, Lusophobe Variation goes 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. Be2. It is a variation of the Scandinavian Defense and is catalogued as ECO B01.
The Portuguese Gambit, Lusophobe Variation is ECO B01. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Scandinavian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Bb5+ Nbd7 5. Be2 at +0.61 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and d5. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one, and White is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. White has doubled pawns on the d-file.