ECO B01 · Scandinavian Defense

Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5

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

3. Nc3+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation (B01), reached after 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.603. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Ne5 c6 7. h4 Nbd7
  2. +0.353. d4 e5 4. Nc3 Qxd4 5. Qxd4 exd4 6. Nb5 Na6 7. Nxd4 Bd6
  3. +0.253. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Nc6 5. O-O O-O-O 6. h3 Bh5 7. Nc3 Qd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation?
After 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Ne5 c6 7. h4 Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 3. d4 (+0.35) and 3. Nf3 (+0.25).
Is the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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: Mieses-Kotroc Variation?
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+).