Is there a comprehensive coverage for Lasker variation of the Scandinavian defense?

Question

Recently I was trying to improve Scandinavian defense in a way that I can reach "Viking" setup ( ...0-0-0 + ...Nc6 + ...Bg4 vs d4 ). I am trying out various move orders, and have stumbled upon one that I believe would suit me the best:

[Title "Scandinavian defense, B01"]
[fen ""]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4

If White plays 6.Bc4 then I can reach my desired setup, which seems to give Black good play according to GM Eric Prié. Unfortunately, I can't afford subscription for the Chess Publishing and the article is dated.

My main interest is about positions with 6.h3! since they can become very hard for Black, forcing him to play "only" moves. In order for answers to this question not to be to broad I am asking for comprehensive resources on the line with 6.h3 only. If space allows, I would appreciate if the answerer could list resources for other moves as well ( like 6.Bc4 ).

To repeat, is there a thorough coverage of the following line:

[Title "Scandinavian defense, B01"]
[fen ""]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3! 

Answer 1

I don't think there is a coverage for this line, but if you don't mind, I have been playing this line for years, so here's my thought.

In this position, black generally takes on f3. The reason is that the move Bg4 per se is aiming to trade off the knight at f3, if not, black will have no reason to play this move among others.

What if black doesn't exchange

a) Bh4 in this position is okay, but white can expand on the king side with h3 and g4. Black cannot really exploit the weakness white created in kingside, as Black piece placement commands black play on queenside.Furthermore, the knight on f3 usually will become a strong piece occupying the outpost e5 in the game later on, while black's light squared bishop is a bad bishop due to blacks pawn structure. This all gives white huge initiative in kingside. For instance

[fen "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.Ne5 e6 9.Bg2 c6 10.h4 Be4 11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Qf3 Nd6 

b) Bf4 or any retreating move is dubious, if black plays this, black may as well just play 5. Bf4 at first instead of wasting a tempo, as black has given white a tempo and white can follow up with g4 Ne5 etc. For instance

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bf5 7.g4 Be4 8.Bd2 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 

What to do after exchange

a) What usually goes is like this

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Bc4 e6 10.O-O Be7 11.Rfe1 O-O 

Black ends up with a solid position

b) Black can also try undermine white's d-pawn if white is careless, due to the lack of f3 knight

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.O-O-O O-O-O 10.Bc4 e6 11.Ne4 Qa4 12.Bb3 Qxd4 13.Nxf6 Qxf6 

c) In some line, black can also play a Bronstein-Larsen-like game.

[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 c6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Bc4 e6 10.Ne4 Qb6 11.Nxf6+ gxf6

Conclusion

If you opt to play Bg4, then you should Bxf3, Bh5 is also playable. Ultimately, the position is something like Caro-Kann for black. Usually, black is behind in development in most lines due to the capture on f3, but the solid position of black compensates it.

Answer 2

I was able to find the name of the line I'm interested in. It is called Lasker variation. It was taken up by GM Ian Rogers in the 1980s but ultimately a way for White to obtain an advantage was found.

After looking through the lines in my Fritz opening book, checking them with Chess Informant ECO B ( 1984 ) and online, I have found that they haven't changed that much.

Since I dislike playing such positions I will rather play 6...Bxf3 and posted answer covered them enough for me ( I have checked that line too ). That is why I have officially accepted the answer, and will add mine here just so current theory of this line with 6...Bh5 can be given in case someone is interested:

[Title "Scandinavian defense, Lasker variation"]
[fen ""]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4! Bg6 8.Ne5 e6 ( 8...c6!? 9.h4 Ne4 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.Nxg6 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 hxg6 13.Qd2 e6 14.O-O-O ) ( 8...Nbd7 9.Nc4 Qa6 10.Bf4 Qe6+ $8 11.Ne3!? Qb6 12.Nb5! Rc8 13.g5!) 9.Bg2 c6 10.h4 Be4 11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Qf3 Nd6 13.Bf4 +/=

The sub-variation with 8...Nbd7 is analyzed in this ChessCafe article, which also gives brief history of the entire line and quickly examines main lines I have presented here.