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English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense – Playing Black After 2.cxd5 Qxd5
The English Opening usually leads to quiet positional fights, but Black can wake things up on move one. After 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5, you have reached the Anglo-Scandinavian Defense with an immediate queen sortie. It is an aggressive, offbeat choice — and the statistics are honest: across 3,834,337 Lichess games, White wins 55.2% of the time, Black wins 40.8%, and draws are rare at 4.1%. Stockfish rates this position +0.73, a clear edge for White, so you are starting slightly behind. But don't let that discourage you. The resulting play is sharp and unbalanced, and most of your opponents will have only the vaguest idea how to handle it. The drill below will teach you exactly what to do.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: cxd5 against the engine
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By bringing the queen out on move two, Black deliberately gives up a tempo — White's next move will attack the queen with Nc3, forcing it to move again. Why do it? Because the Scandinavian setup (1.e4 d5 is the more famous cousin) lets Black challenge the centre immediately with queen and pawns, leading to positions that are easier to play for Black than for a White player who only knows quiet English lines. The queen will retreat to d6 (the engine's best response), after which Black aims for ...e5, taking over the centre with pawns and preparing natural piece development. The queen on d6 also eyes the white king's future home on the kingside, and it keeps an eye on the d4 square. You are not trying to equalise in the first five moves — you are steering the game toward a middlegame where your active pieces will compensate for the small edge White holds on the scoreboard.
The Critical Moment: Handling Nc3
The overwhelming majority of White's replies — over 3.4 million games out of 3.8 million — are Nc3, attacking your queen. This is the engine's best move, and the one you must be ready for. After 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3, the best and most popular retreat is Qd6. From d6 the queen supports the key advance ...e5, which immediately challenges White's central control. The engine's full recommended line continues 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.d4 e5, and now Black has a solid, active position. Notice the pattern: Black pushes ...e5 even at the cost of a tempo, because the pawn on e5 fights for d4 and opens lines for the bishop on f8 and the queen on d6. This is the tabiya of the variation — White has the extra tempo, but Black has a clear plan and no awkward pieces.
The Most Dangerous Reply (and How to Meet It)
Some White players will avoid Nc3 and try something tricky. The second-most popular move, Nf3 (197,058 games), scores even better for White at 56.6%. After 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3, Black can still aim for ...e5, but should be careful not to drift into a worse version of the main line. Keep your queen on d6 and develop naturally — the same ideas apply. Much more interesting are the two moves the engine flags as mistakes: d4 (loses ~0.7 pawns; better was Nc3) and b3 (loses ~0.8 pawns; better was Nc3). If your opponent plays either of these, you have a real chance to seize the advantage. After 3.d4, Black can take control of the centre with ...e5 immediately, and the queen on d5 is powerfully placed. After 3.b3, the queen stays on d5 for a moment, and Black can develop with tempo — the position opens up favourably for you. Learn to punish these inaccuracies and your score as Black will improve fast.
What the Statistics Tell You
The numbers confirm that this is not an opening where Black equalises by force. White's 55.2% win rate and Stockfish's +0.73 evaluation mean you will often be the one fighting for equality out of the opening. But notice the subtle differences in White's scoring depending on the move: Nc3 scores 55.3%, Nf3 scores 56.6%, e3 scores 54.1%, d4 scores 51.4%, and d3 scores 51.0%. The White players who know the theory (Nc3) do a little better — but the ones who play quietly with e3, d4, or d3 score significantly worse. That is your edge. When White plays imprecisely, your chances jump. The Anglo-Scandinavian rewards players who know the first few moves and can handle the unbalanced queen-in-the-centre positions that follow.
Results across 3,834,337 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 3,426,444 | 55.3% |
| Nf3 | 197,058 | 56.6% |
| e3 | 70,588 | 54.1% |
| d4 | 67,150 | 51.4% |
| d3 | 28,645 | 51.0% |
| b3 | 9,853 | 51.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Anglo-Scandinavian Defense a good opening for Black?
It is a playable but slightly risky choice. Stockfish evaluates it at +0.73 in White's favour, and White wins 55.2% of games in the database. That said, it leads to unbalanced positions where Black has active piece play and a clear plan, making it a good surprise weapon at the club level.
What is the best move for Black after 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5?
The engine recommends responding to White's best move Nc3 with Qd6, and then meeting d4 with ...e5. If White plays an inaccuracy like d4 or b3 on move three, Black can take the initiative immediately.
Why does Black bring the queen out so early in the Anglo-Scandinavian?
Black challenges White's centre immediately and steers the game toward Scandinavian-style positions. The queen on d5 forces White to spend a tempo attacking it with Nc3, after which Black retreats to d6 and aims to push ...e5, gaining central space and easy development.
What are the most common mistakes White makes in this opening?
Playing d4 or b3 on move three are both inaccuracies according to the engine. d4 loses roughly 0.7 pawns compared to the best move Nc3, and b3 loses about 0.8 pawns. Both moves give Black a real chance to take over the game.
How many games feature the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: cxd5?
Over 4 million Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense: cxd5 position. White wins 55.2%, Black wins 40.8%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.