Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d5/2. exd5/2...Qxd5/3. Nc3

Scandinavian Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3q4/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR b
Moves: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3

Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotrč Variation, 3.Nc3

In this position, black queen is under attack and must find a safe square. There are several possibilities.

3...Qa5 is the most common. The queen cannot be attacked again, but she can pin the knight if White dares to advance his d-pawn and she can later move to b6 to target the b2 pawn.

3...Qd6 and 3...Qd8 are less aggressive alternatives.

3...Qe5+ and 3...Qe6+ check the king, inviting White to play 4. Be2 and weaken the g2 pawn.

Of course, Black cannot play 3... Qc6?? because of 4. Bb5, winning the Queen by pinning it to the king.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3

	3
Main line	- Qa5	=
	- Qd6	=
Valencian Variation	- Qd8	=
Patzer Variation	- Qe5+	=
	- Qe6+	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Anatoli Karpov - Bent Larsen 1979