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 Line4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Ilundain Variation4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
'Scachs d'amor', a Valencian poem of about 1475, carries the earliest known game played by modern rules, and it opens 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, rely on a solid structure. Larsen beat the reigning world champion Karpov with it at Montreal 1979.
Study this opening