After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5, you are playing a very direct Scandinavian setup. The queen comes out early, so your job is simple but important: keep it safe, answer White’s most natural developing moves, and do not waste time. This page is built around the drill below, where you can practise the first critical position as Black and learn what the engine expects when White chooses the main replies.
On this page
Play the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and practise the key replies as Black. Create a free account to track your opening training.
Find your own #1 mistake — free →What the position says right away
Stockfish rates this +0.62, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The practical message is not to panic. White has a modest pull, but the position is still playable and common. Your task is to meet White’s development with accurate moves and avoid drifting into the mistakes that give White a bigger edge. The drill below helps you recognise the most important responses at this exact moment.
White’s main try is Nc3
The most-played continuation is Nc3, with 60,980,624 games and a White score of 51.3%. It is also the engine’s best move here.
That makes Nc3 the move you need to know first. In the engine line, the play continues Nc3 Qa5 d4 Nf6. You do not need to memorise a long script; you do need to understand that White develops naturally and keeps pressure on your queen, while you should stay active and organised.
What to expect from the popular replies
White has a few other common tries besides Nc3. Nf3 appears in 7,888,589 games and gives White a 51.3% score. d4 appears in 5,302,382 games with White scoring 51.8%. c4 appears in 1,605,608 games with White scoring 50.6%. Qf3 appears in 1,185,560 games with White scoring 47.6%, and d3 appears in 762,498 games with White scoring 47.6%.
From your side, the important idea is to stay calm and respond to development, not to chase tricks. This opening often becomes a fight over piece activity and safe coordination, especially because the queen moved early.
The moves to respect most
The database marks three replies as important mistakes or inaccuracies for White. d4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; the better move was Nc3. c4 is a mistake and loses about 1.3 pawns; the better move was Nc3. Qf3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; the better move was Nc3.
That is useful for training because it tells you what White should not get away with. If White chooses one of those moves, you should still play sensibly and keep the position under control. The lesson is not to hunt for a forced win, but to make White prove the advantage move by move.
Results across 78,736,750 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nc3Main line | 60,980,624 | 51.3% |
| 2 | Nf3 | 7,888,589 | 51.3% |
| 3 | d4 | 5,302,382 | 51.8% |
| 4 | c4 | 1,605,608 | 50.6% |
| 5 | Qf3 | 1,185,560 | 47.6% |
| 6 | d3 | 762,498 | 47.6% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation?
It is the position after 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5. In this lesson, you are playing Black, and the queen comes out early to recapture the pawn. The drill focuses on how to handle White’s most natural developing moves from there.
Is this position good for Black?
Stockfish rates it +0.62, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse, but not lost. The key is to play accurately and know the main replies White is likely to choose.
What is the best move for White here?
The engine’s best move is Nc3. It is also the most-played continuation, with 60,980,624 games and a White score of 51.3%. The engine line continues Nc3 Qa5 d4 Nf6.
Which White moves should I be ready for?
Besides Nc3, the common replies are Nf3, d4, c4, Qf3, and d3. Of those, d4, c4, and Qf3 are listed as mistakes or inaccuracies, while Nc3 is the critical move to know first.
How many games feature the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation?
Over 79 million Lichess games have reached the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation position. White wins 51.2%, Black wins 44.5%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.