Why play the Modern ...Qd6 Scandinavian?

I am glad you asked such a question!

When we are confronted with learning how to face 1. e4, we find that there are TONS of openings to choose from, and each is unique.  From super-solid setups such as the Caro-Kann, to provocative setups such as the Alekhine, to even the classical King Pawn defenses...the search can be something of nightmares for the average player.  

One AMAZING option is the ...Qd6 Scandinavian, which can be reached via this move order:

That's it!  You have entered into a fully playable variation within only 3 moves!  The best part is that you have cut back on a LOT of opening theory, based on these choices!

With your first move, you are immediately counter-attacking White's central gains.  By far, the most common response is to take on d5, which is followed up commonly with Qxd5.  There are other alternatives, such as ...Nf6, but we will not be focusing on them.

The most common move at this point is by far 3. Nc3, which brings us to our point of interest - the modern Scandinavian with ...Qd6.

From the d6 square, the queen influences a total of 25 squares!  This includes 3 central squares (d4, d5 and e5) and if you count the next central ring, she influences SIX squares!  That is a lot of active play from her majesty, at move 3!

But you say, "NO!  We are taught that it is bad to develop the queen early".  There is a general rule of thumb that it is inadvisable to bring out the queen early - BUT if there is a lucid plan behind that strategy, then the rule of thumb doesn't apply in quite the same manner.

We can see that the queen is not easily attacked at d6.  The main ideas that can be played are the immediate Nb5 and Ne4, and neither gives White great chances of success, so these are not commonly essayed.  I even have a game in my database where a 2600 (Hector) loses to a 2300 after trying the immediate Ne4?!.  

With this said, since we know that the queen has a stable square at d6, we can begin to look at operations - and this is part of the beauty of the Qd6 Scandinavian.  Black can employ modest pawn structures, such as ...c6 and ...e6, he can go for a ...g6 and ...Bg7 setup, he can play ...a6 and ...b5...he has ideas with placing his queen bishop on g4 or f5, or (per Tiviakov) even leaving it on c8 at times!  

He can often facilitate queenside castling, with ...Bg4, ...Nc6 and ...0-0-0 in the first few moves.  

You know, we could sit down and discuss all the perks of this opening, but perhaps I will let those who are better qualified offer some feedback, so we can begin some discussion.

I am not posting only Black wins to insist that this idea is a win by default for Black.  Rather, I simply want to show that Black is able to enter into the middlegame with a fully playable position, with winning chances.  

According to my database, I have 7,121 games that feature 3...Qd6, with a 54.2% percentage for White.  This can be compared to an opening such as the Ruy Lopez, where I have 184,305 games - with a 57% percentage for White.  

Even some of the well-respected GMs at chess.com believe in the strength of 3...Qd6!

With all of this said, what is the purpose of this thread?  Is it simply to discuss an opening?  Sure!  But there is more to it than that.  We also have decided to create a group that caters to this defense - 

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/scandinavian-defense-3qd6-variation

The group is brand new, so we will be adding new content to it regularly to get things situated.  We are also partnered with one of the biggest Scandinavian groups on chess.com, 1. e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense, with close to 350 members.

Our goal is to offer a group that focuses on great discussion, as well as team and vote chess matches.  

If you are already an experienced practicioneer of this variation, welcome home!  If you are simply seeking for a new defense to 1. e4, why not join us and learn a few things?  In the end, if all you gain from this group is simply how to defend against 3...Qd6, I would say that we have done our job.

Looking forward to some great discussion!  Post some of your favorite games, or even some games you have played with either color against this variation.

From a 1st person standpoint, my actual interest in this defense stemmed from my teacher.  I had been looking for a good defense for years against 1. e4.  The closest I ever came to finding that was with the French, although there were some issues I had not yet worked out.

He said, "You should play the ...Qd6 Scandinavian" and he offered me some literature to study.  I must say that I LOVE playing these lines.  They are highly colorful, they offer clean piece/pawn play (which I absolutely love), and the structures are often clean even into the endgame, which is another perk for me.  I TOTALLY dig solid structures.  

I will post some of my own attempts at this variation tomorrow.

My teacher told me to play 3...e5, and offered some ideas.  I will give a bit of his analysis on this:

That is a mouthful, and I still have a lot of studying, but this is what I am to study.  I don't want to paste EVERYTHING he offered, but this bit here should be enough for some discussion.

I used to play the Petroff, and I did enjoy it to a degree.  I think I am actually enjoying this one more though...it seems that with being able to play ideas such as ...e6, I limit certain annoying attacks.  I do remember having to go through all the theoretical lines back when on the Petroff...I think (so far) I am liking this more.

I will admit I am not part of Team Scandi.

IM John bartholomew would be so sad.

However, after seeing a game Anand played vs the Scandi.

I honestly think the Scandi sucks!

Anand played g3 that was it.

The little g3 pawn move is so crushing.

Its not even an aggressive move!

g3- Bg2- d3- than threw up his b pawn to b4.

Well, I was interested in playing the 3...Qd6 Scandinavian and even bought the book The Scandinavian Move by Move. However, the author himself scared me away from playing it when he said Chapters Two, Three and Four on 6 Ne5 (1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd6 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Ne5) are exceedingly dangerous and constitutes an existential threat to black's very survival and that black must know the theory like his life depends on it. 

After 6 Ne5 Chapter Two is on 7 Nc4, Chapter Three is on 7 Bf4, and Chapter Four is on 7 f4. I don't know details because I didn't try to study it after what the author said, and I'm not one who likes to have to learn theory inside out. 

I do have a question.

What line of the Scandi do you believe is the best one after 3.Nc3?

Qa5? Qd6? or Qd8?

Do you guys believe they are all even or some are worse than others?

Thank you.

I have never thought about playing the Scandi.

However, I will admit I do like the Caro-Kann.

I do play it from time to time.

Some of the different Scandi games I have seen offer the same pawn structure as the Caro-Kann from time to time.

I could see myself playing the Scandi lol one day maybe lol.

That is the exact way Gavrikov said I should play the position.  Iron, yes you should know the stuff, but honestly, if you want to enter any line, sometimes a bit of study is important.  For instance, I play Bird's Opening, SO it was necessary to dedicate extra time to From's Gambit.  

@ Peppinu and XPlayer - 

If you guys want to join the team, we would love to have you on there.  It is brand new, so it will take a bit of time to get the numbers up, but very soon I plan to engage in some Vote and Team Chess, so we all can learn some things together!

I would like to see that game.  I found a few Anand games with the White pieces against the Scandi.  This is not the game you mentioned, but he loses against Kamsky here in the 2...Nf6 lines.

The only game I have in my database that he plays with the Black pieces is a loss (although it is to Kasparov!)

Compared to the Caro Kann, how are these ideas that much worse?

Wow, thanks for such an informative post!

I am sorry Bird

The sequence of moves I was thinking of is from the 3...Qa5 line.

That might be the reason you couldn't find it.

It has a nice idea of playing g3 than later on they throw up the b4 pawn to harrass the queen on a5. lol

Funny thing is black often doesn't take the undefended b4 pawn because it gives white to much activity for the rook.

The g3 line pfren showed is how they play the position against the 3...Qd6 line I believe.

I think that is were my confusion was at.

They play more in the center in that position.

They often go for d4 pawn push.

Perhaps they play in the center simply because the black queen is on d6 and not on a5.

It would make perfect sense. Even thought it is kind of funny lol.

Either way I still think the g3 line in either position is a very sweet little line.

If I remember correctly the line goes something like below:

Its like a funny line man.

White sometimes plays d3 to blunt the dark bishop than just keep doing a queen side attack.

They try to get in b5 to rip open the diagonal

All I know is if high level peeps play g3 and Pfren plays g3.

Than it is a diamond in the rough.

Nice little gem of a line.

I use to struggle against the Scandi.

I play this line now it seems so simple.

I think one of the annoying ideas that Black needs to be ready for (and g3 helps support it) is Bf4.  But even in his game, and looking at things practically, what is the core difference between these two "passive" ideas?  

Aren't both ideas technically considered passive?

We are at almost 10 members.  Once we hit 10, I will search out our first thematic team match.  Most likely, we will do one against the 1. e4 d5 Scandinavian Team, or perhaps against another team I have worked with in the past who is open to exploring openings, and as we get a bit bigger, I will seek out our first vote chess match!

@ fiveofswords : 3.d4 is not so good because of e5 as pointed out before.

But 3.Nf3 and then d4 is the way, then could continue c4 later, its a main variation and a very good one.

In the Scandi black trys to lose some time with his queen in order to do a sneaky plan of trying to get white to block the C pawn.

White no longer has a e4 pawn so ideally he would like to have a c4 and d4 pawn combo in the center.

I think the main problem is the waste of time black uses with the queen eventually balances out with the waste of time white ends up having to do with the knight.

In the end, The situation ends up being both sides are wasting the same amount of time to move poorly placed pieces.

I use to think the only time black did great in the Scandi was when the white sided player was a novice and didn't realize they needed to play c4.

However, the above statement doesn't seem to be true any more.

Considering the g3 line I been talking about doesn't move the c4 pawn.

Also there is a line by Nigel Shorts which has a Bc4-d3-f3  set up which seems to be playable as well.

So now I do not know why any1 would play the Scandi.

I guess they play it out of love that is my only guess.

I think the Caro-Kann is simply better.

I think the Caro-Kann is the big brother the Scandi wishes it could be but never fully measures up.