Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation
Chess opening · ECO B01 · 6 half-moves
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
The Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation is reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation with 3. Nc3 Qd8.
How often it is played
The Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation and its variations appeared in 0.88% of games — 26,300 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 59 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 49%, 4.1% were drawn and Black won 47%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.76 — a clear edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 | 0.70% |
| Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 | 0.84% |
| Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit | 1. e4 d5 2. Nf3 | 0.59% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Main Line | 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 | 0.03% |
| Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Ilundain Variation | 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 | 0.02% |
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