Scandinavian Defense · B01

Valencian Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. ...d5 challenges e4 on move one; Black accepts an early queen sortie for a rock-solid Caro-Kann-style structure with no theory debt.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Scandinavian Defense.
• 2. exd5 Takes the pawn on d5, toward the centre.
• 2... Qxd5 Recaptures the pawn on d5. Theory calls this the Mieses-Kotroc Variation.

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