The Chess Vibes Guide to The Modern Scandinavian gives you a quick and efficient system for Black when White opens with e4.

Instead of memorizing 80+ hours of opening lines and variations, you’ll have an easy-to-follow system that forces your opponent out of their comfort zone from move 2…

Helping you win more games, increase your ELO faster, and have more fun while playing!

Get Up and Running in Hours, Not Weeks!

The goal of this course is not to jam 80+ hours of content explaining every single line and variation. Instead, you’ll get an efficient system with simple rules and strategy.

Within a few hours you’ll be up and running and forcing your opponents into uncomfortable positions and punishing their mistakes.

Course Details

A Bulletproof System Based on Real Data

After analyzing thousands of games, I've put together a bulletproof system built around the "Modern" Scandinavian that prepares you for exactly what you'll face after each move based on your ELO rating.

And don’t worry about leaving your Queen hanging! You'll learn a special gambit that keeps your Queen safe while catching your opponent off-guard.

Attack First And Have More Fun!

The Modern Scandinavian has lots of built-in surprise value. It immediately creates conflict in the center and leads to really fun and aggressive positions.

I’ll show you how to force your opponents into awkward positions, questioning their decisions, and how to turn their confusion into quick wins in the middle and endgame.

Curated for Your Level

Every line is based on the Lichess database filtered for your rating range (700-1800 ELO), so you're learning what you'll actually face, instead of grandmaster theory.

Plus I've included multiple live games at each rating level to show you how to apply what you learn against real opponents.

PDF & PGN Downloads

You’ll also get a downloadable PDF cheat sheet that summarizes every key move from the course. Scan it before your games, keep it open while you play.

Plus you’ll get PGN downloads with every line and branch from the course. Import them into your favorite platform to quickly review the moves and practice on your own time.

Course Curriculum

Lesson 1: Intro to The "Modern" Scandinavian

Lesson 2: Crushing the c4 Pawn Grab

Lesson 3: The Nc3 Line: Simple and Solid for Black

Lesson 4: White Gets Clever: d4 & Nf3

Lesson 5: What to Do When They Go “Off Script”

Lesson 6: Putting It All Together (Live Example Games)

30 Day Money-Back Guarantee

This gives you full month to try out the course, apply what you learn…

And if you don’t see an immediate impact in your games, if you don’t have a new-found confidence and excitement every time you start a new game…

If after 30 days, you don’t see a significant improvement in your ELO rating, just shoot my team a message and I’ll send you 100% of your money back!

Just make an honest attempt at applying what you learn, and I will literally guarantee a tangible increase in your ELO rating!

I truly believe this course gives you everything you need to start playing The Scandinavian TODAY with unique lines you won’t find anywhere else and a simple system to crush 1.e4 with confidence.

$

97

Meet Your Instructor

Nelson Lopez

Nelson Lopez is the creator of Chess Vibes. With over 30 years of experience playing chess, he's won multiple state and national championships and reached the level of National Master (2200 ELO rating).

He is known for his aggressive playing style and ability to explain what he’s doing in a way that’s accessible and easy to apply in your own games. This combination has built an audience of over 650,000 YouTube subscribers and helped more than 6,000 students level up their chess skills through his online courses.

6,000+

Students

650k+

Followers

190M+

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Ratings and Reviews

4.9
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13 Ratings
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What's your experience? We'd love to know!
tim-maxwell
Posted 2 weeks ago
Interesting take on the Scandinavian

Really liked the videos, PNG and cheat sheet. I like the aggressive play, the focus on principles and key moves rather than 100 different lines to memorize. In trying to play it, however, I think the vast majority of people at my elo are pushing past d5 (at least 3 or 4 out of the past 5 games I've played when able to try the Scandinavian).

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armyguy63b
Posted 2 weeks ago
Enjoyed the concise presentation

Easily able to practice lesson and review again to refresh my memory.

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TuttyEmy
Posted 2 weeks ago
I didnt like the Scandinavian But now I like it

At first, I didn't like the Scandinavian Gambit at all and criticized those who played it, but seeing the evolution of modern Scandinavian chess (not the old version), I really loved this more aggressive version, which is my style of play.

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william-oliver
Posted 3 weeks ago
To the point!

Goes over the most common moves, and focuses on the ideas not memorization.

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jancurtis-nlgmail-com
Posted 1 month ago
Best for ELO of 1200 or less

Have played against higher level ELOs and found I needed more lines to counter attacks.

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pxlchessnoob
Posted 1 month ago
Nice clear instructions

I can relate to the way that you explain the moves and logic. Great communicator. Thank you!

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charlesryan4479gmail-com
Posted 1 month ago
Nelon's way of explaining clicks with me.

Only thing I was thinking was how the live play examples featured the same line...when the pawn pushes by...

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rex-anderson
Posted 1 month ago
Nelson's a great teacher

This course exceeded my expectations. Thank you Nelson!

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John
Posted 1 month ago
Concentrate on the principles, not line memorization

Stuck to the primary expected moves and discussed the general tactics and considerations that will be likely to occur.

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soren-holbech-hansen
Posted 3 months ago
Another brilliant course

The Guide to the Scandinavian is a really good course that I can highly recommend. It is clear, easy to understand and easy to remember. All thanks to Nilsson's really good way of teaching, so that it doesn't become too complicated with too many lines and variations to remember. After going through the course, I am very much looking forward to putting what I have learned into practice. Thank you.

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