B01 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation
6/6
1.e4d52.exd5Qxd53.Nc3Qd8
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation16.5M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%6.5M52%
36%5.9M54%
15%2.4M52%
2.5%416k49%
1.4%237k53%
1.2%207k49%
1.1%186k51%
1.1%179k50%
0.8%140k51%
0.5%83k51%
Famous games in this line1.4k master games
Caruana, F. (2801) – Carlsen, M. (2877)Firouzja, Alireza (2767) – Nakamura, Hi (2802)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Wei, Yi (2732)Caruana, F. (2819) – Duda, J. (2729)Giri, A. (2783) – Nakamura, Hi (2746)So, W. (2767) – Artemiev, V. (2746)Yu Yangyi (2764) – Nakamura, Hi (2746)Giri, A. (2779) – Duda, J. (2729)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Carlsen, M. · Artemiev, V. · Nakamura, Hi
- Family
- Scandinavian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B01
- Line
- 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Main LineB01 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Ilundain VariationB01 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
The oldest recorded game of modern chess — Valencia, 1475, 'Scachs d'amor' — opened 1.e4 d5. Five centuries later the Scandinavian is still the most direct answer to 1.e4: force matters immediately, accept the early queen move, and rely on a rock-solid structure. Larsen even used it to beat Karpov.
Study this opening