ECO A10 · English Opening

English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation

1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Nf3+0.73

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation (A10), reached after 1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.73).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.734. Nf3 e6 5. d4 c5 6. e4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Bd2 Qb6
  2. +0.584. d4 e5 5. dxe5 Nc6 6. f4 Bb4 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. Bd2 Bg4
  3. +0.564. e4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4 cxd4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation?
After 1. c4 d5 2. cxd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing e6 5. d4 c5 6. e4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Bd2 Qb6. White is slightly better (+0.73). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+0.58) and 4. e4 (+0.56).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.73: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation?
A10. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).