Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation
The Mieses Variation is 4.d4 Nf6 in the ...Qa5 Scandinavian, the most natural setup for both sides. White develops with Nf3, Bd2 or Bc4, while Black prepares ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 and a solid ...c6 structure.
- Moves
- 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6
- ECO
- B01
- Engine
- +0.58 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 3,196 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 5.Nf3, the top engine move, and meet ...Bf5 with Bd2 and Bc4 to set up Qe2 and long castling.
- The 5.Bd2 line unpins the c3 knight first and can follow with Nge2 to avoid ...Bg4 pins.
- After 5.Bc4, f3 blunts a bishop on g4 and prepares Nge2 and quick castling.
- Look for Nd5 tricks once the bishop is on d2 and the queen is still on a5.
Black
- Develop the light bishop to f5 or g4 before ...e6 so it stays outside the pawn chain.
- Play ...c6 early to give the queen a retreat on c7 and blunt Nd5 ideas.
- Against Bd2 and Nge2 setups, the ...e5 break can free the position at the right moment.
- Use ...Nbd7 and short castling, keeping the queen flexible between c7 and b6.
Plans and pawn structure
This is the starting position for many Scandinavian main lines. White's d4 pawn faces no Black d-pawn, so the e5 square and the e-file decide much of the middlegame. White aims for Nf3, Bd2, Bc4 and Qe2 with long castling, or a quieter Be2 and short castling. Black sets up ...c6, ...Bf5, ...e6 and ...Nbd7, then castles short. The main fight is White's space against Black's solid but slightly passive structure.
Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.58: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.58 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bd2 c6 7.Bc4 Nbd7
- +0.54 5.Bd2 Bg4 6.Nge2 e5 7.h3 Bd7
- +0.40 5.Bc4 Bg4 6.f3 Bd7 7.Bd2 Qb6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
3,196 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Classical Variation5.Nf3 · 510 games
- Grünfeld Variation5.Nf3 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, play ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 before ...e6 and add ...c6 so the queen has a retreat. As White, develop with Nf3 and Bd2 and do not let Black's bishop pin your knight without a plan to break it, such as h3 or Be2.
Questions
What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation?
The Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6. Its ECO code is B01.
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.58 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 3,196 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.9%. A main-line position that suits Black players who want a reliable setup and White players who like steady development.
What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation?
Both sides make the most natural moves: White builds d4 and develops, Black brings the knight to f6 and prepares ...Bf5 or ...Bg4. The game is about White's space against Black's solid structure.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Nf3, with Bd2 and Bc4 close behind. 5.Nf3 develops the knight and supports d4 before choosing a bishop setup.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.