Chess Openings Lab
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Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation

The Valencian Variation is 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8, where Black retreats the queen all the way home. White gains free development and central space, while Black plans a compact setup with ...Nf6, ...e6 or ...g6 and hopes to show that White's lead is not lasting.

Moves
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8
ECO
B01
Engine
+0.74 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
28,170 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play d4, Nf3, Bd3 and Be3, as in the top engine line, using the tempo gained against Black's queen.
  • Castle long with Qd2 and Be3 if Black goes ...g6, aiming for an attack with h4.
  • Use the knight on c3 for Nb5 or Ne4 jumps when Black plays ...a6 or ...c6 late.
  • Keep d4 well protected because it is White's only central pawn and the target of Black's ...c5 break.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...Be7, then castle short, a solid French-like setup.
  • Try ...g6 and ...Bg7 to press d4 along the long diagonal, then castle short behind the fianchetto.
  • Pin with ...Bg4 when White plays Nf3, to fight for d4 and e5.
  • Use ...a6 to stop Nb5 and Bb5 before playing ...c5 against d4.

Plans and pawn structure

White has an extra central pawn on d4, while Black has no d-pawn and keeps the e6 and c-pawn ready. White's plan is quick development and an attack, often with Bd3, Qe2 and castling, or Be3, Qd2 and long castling. Black wants ...Nf6, a fianchetto or ...e6, and then the ...c5 break against d4. If Black frees the position in time, the queen's long trip back costs little.

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 +0.74: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.74 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bd3 Be7
  2. +0.71 4.Nf3 g6 5.d4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6
  3. +0.34 4.g3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.Bb5 Bd6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

28,170 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.4%.

under 120055.6%
1200–159952.1%
1600–199951.8%
2000 and up51.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As White, develop quickly with d4 and Nf3 and use the time Black spent on queen moves. Avoid an early queen trade, which lets Black off the hook. Put the bishops on active squares like d3 and e3 and castle before trying to attack.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation?

The Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation starts 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8. Its ECO code is B01.

Is the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.74 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 28,170 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.4%. A safe but passive choice that suits patient Black players who defend well, while White gets an easy development edge.

What is the main idea of the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation?

Black pulls the queen back to d8 so no White piece can hit it again. White gets a lead in development and the d4 pawn, while Black plans ...Nf6 and a later ...c5.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with Nf3 and g3 close behind. 4.d4 claims the center and frees the c1 bishop, so White's development lead can turn into space.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.