Chessy
English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation
After 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5, it is White to move and you are playing Black. The position is already slightly uncomfortable for Black: White has easy development, while your queen has moved early and can become a target for tempo-gaining moves. Stockfish rates this +1.00, a clear edge for White. That means you are already under pressure, so the goal here is not to “equalise by force”, but to stay accurate, meet the most direct follow-up, and keep the game manageable in the drill below.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is asking you to solve
This variation is about surviving an early queen excursion and choosing a practical square for the queen. The opening moves have created an imbalanced position very quickly, and the main issue is that White can develop with tempo while you are still organising your pieces. The engine's best move here is d4, and the listed continuation is d4 Nf6 Bd2 Qb6. In other words, the critical test begins immediately: can you answer White’s most forceful central play without drifting into a worse game?
What the database says
The large database sample is very clear: across 709,820 games at this exact position, White wins 52.8%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 43.4%. That matches the engine verdict well. This is not a cosy equal position for Black; White scores better here, and the practical result distribution shows that Black has work to do just to stay in the game. Use the drill to get used to the feeling of defending a slightly worse position without panicking.
The most popular choices for White
White has several natural continuations, and the database shows which ones are most common. The most-played move is Nf3 with 180,483 games and White scoring 52.4%. Next comes g3 with 175,239 games and White scoring 54.5%. Then d4 appears in 139,771 games with White scoring 54.0%. The other main moves are e4 with 55,083 games and White scoring 51.7%, e3 with 47,079 games and White scoring 50.1%, and d3 with 44,106 games and White scoring 53.2%. So you should expect quiet development moves as well as the direct central strike.
Two moves to treat with care
The position also contains a couple of known errors to watch for. e3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was d4. d3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; again, d4 was better. For Black, that is useful practical information: if White delays the central break, they may be giving you a chance to settle your position. Still, the honest verdict remains the same — White is better here, so your first job is accuracy, not ambition.
Results across 709,820 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 180,483 | 52.4% |
| g3 | 175,239 | 54.5% |
| d4 | 139,771 | 54.0% |
| e4 | 55,083 | 51.7% |
| e3 | 47,079 | 50.1% |
| d3 | 44,106 | 53.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation good for Black?
This page does not show a good outcome for Black. The engine rates the position +1.00, which means White is better, and the database results also favour White. You should approach it as a line where Black needs precise defence rather than as an equal opening.
What is the best move for White here?
The engine's best move is d4. The listed continuation is d4 Nf6 Bd2 Qb6, which gives you a concrete line to study in the drill. That makes this a useful position for training, because the main test comes very early.
Which White moves are most common in this position?
The most-played continuation is Nf3, followed closely by g3 and d4. The database also shows e4, e3, and d3 as frequent choices. That means you should be ready for both simple development and a direct central push.
Are e3 and d3 serious mistakes here?
They are listed as inaccuracies, and both are worse than d4. The note for e3 says it loses about 0.6 pawns, while d3 loses about 0.5 pawns. If you face either one, you are likely getting a more comfortable position than after the stronger central move.
How many games feature the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation?
Over 709K Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation position. White wins 52.8%, Black wins 43.4%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.