ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6

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

4. Nf3+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.634. Nf3 Bf5 5. d4 e6 6. Nb5 Qb6 7. Bf4 Bd6 8. Ne5 f6
  2. +0.564. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Ne5 Nc6
  3. +0.394. Be2 Nc6 5. Nf3 a6 6. d4 Bf5 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 e6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing Bf5 5. d4 e6 6. Nb5 Qb6 7. Bf4 Bd6 8. Ne5 f6. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+0.56) and 4. Be2 (+0.39).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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 Scandinavian Defense: Gubinsky-Melts Defense?
B01. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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