Chessy
Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation 4.d3 – A Level Fight
After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d3 Nc6, the Scandinavian Defense takes a quieter turn. White has retreated your queen early and now prepares to develop solidly. Stockfish evaluates this position at +0.03 — that's essentially even, meaning neither side holds an advantage from the start. The statistics from 112,637 Lichess games confirm it: White wins 47.9%, Black wins 47.2%, with only 4.9% draws. Below, you'll face the engine in this exact position and learn what to do against White's most common replies.
Play the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation: d3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Test your knowledge in the interactive drill below — play the Black side against the engine and practice punishing 5.Bf4. Create a free account to track your进步.
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For – The Central Tension
Unlike sharp Scandinavian lines where Black aims for immediate pressure on d5 or queenside counterplay, the Valencian with d3 is a patient opening. Your pawn on e5 (after the natural ...e5) will contest the centre, your knight on c6 is already well-placed, and you'll look to develop your kingside quickly. The key idea: White's quiet 4.d3 doesn't threaten anything directly, so you have time to finish development and castle. The position stays fluid — there are no forced tactics, just chess. Your goal is to reach a comfortable middlegame where your pieces coordinate naturally. The engine says it's dead level, which means small mistakes matter more than explosive attacks.
The Engine's Top Choice: 5.Nf3
The engine recommends 5.Nf3 as White's best move, and it's also the most popular choice in practice (45,647 games). After 5.Nf3, the critical continuation is 5...e5 6.Be3 Bb4. You seize the centre with ...e5, then pin the knight on c3 with ...Bb4, pressuring White's setup. From here, White typically castles or plays Bd2 to break the pin. Your plan: complete development with ...Nf6, ...O-O, and maybe ...Re8, keeping an eye on the d4-square. White scores 48.7% in this line — barely above average — so there's nothing to fear. Just develop naturally and avoid rushing.
The Most Common White Setups – What to Expect
Here's what you'll face most often in practice, and how to respond: - 5.Be3 (17,188 games, White 47.6%): White develops the bishop to e3. Your best reply is still 5...e5, contesting the centre. Then ...Bd6 or ...Bb4 are both fine. Black scores a healthy 52.4% here — slightly above average for you. - 5.Bf4 (15,568 games, White 46.6%): This is actually a known inaccuracy — the engine penalises it by about 0.6 pawns compared to 5.Nf3. After 5.Bf4, you can play 5...e5, gaining a tempo on the bishop. It's a small but real edge for Black. - 5.Be2 (7,209 games, White 47.6%): A quiet developing move. Again, ...e5 is fine, followed by natural development. - 5.g3 (7,141 games, White 49.3%): White fianchettoes the bishop. You should also play ...e5 here, then ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 to complete development. No matter which setup White chooses, your recipe is the same: control the centre with ...e5, develop your pieces, castle, and play sound chess. The statistics prove this approach works.
The Mistake to Punish – 5.Bf4
The database flags 5.Bf4 as an inaccuracy, losing about 0.6 pawns of evaluation compared to the best move (5.Nf3). Why? Because your simple reply 5...e5 attacks the bishop, forcing it to move again. White loses a tempo and weakens their central control. After 5.Bf4 e5 6.Bg3 (or 6.Bg5 f6 chasing it further), you're already slightly ahead in development. This is a perfect example of why you should know the basic ideas of this opening: when White plays an imprecise move, you can punish it immediately. In the drill below, if the engine plays 5.Bf4, remember this sequence and grab the small edge.
Results across 112,637 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 45,647 | 48.7% |
| Be3 | 17,188 | 47.6% |
| Bf4 | 15,568 | 46.6% |
| Be2 | 7,209 | 47.6% |
| g3 | 7,141 | 49.3% |
| Bd2 | 6,221 | 48.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Defense Valencian Variation d3 good for Black?
Yes — Stockfish evaluates it at +0.03, meaning the position is effectively equal. In practice, Black wins 47.2% of games at club level, almost exactly as often as White (47.9%). It's a solid, risk-free choice for Black.
What is the best move for Black after 4.d3 Nc6?
The engine's top continuation after White's most common reply 5.Nf3 is 5...e5 6.Be3 Bb4. Against other White moves like 5.Be3 or 5.Bf4, your immediate ...e5 is also excellent. Controlling the centre with ...e5 is the consistent idea across all lines.
Does White have a refutation of the Valencian 4.d3?
No. The engine gives White only a +0.03 advantage, which is negligible. No move in the database gives White a winning score — White's best statistics come from 5.g3 (49.3%) and 5.Nf3 (48.7%), both below 50% in practice. The opening is sound.
Why is 5.Bf4 a mistake for White?
5.Bf4 is flagged as an inaccuracy because it loses about 0.6 pawns compared to the best move 5.Nf3. Black can reply 5...e5, attacking the bishop and gaining a tempo. After the bishop retreats, Black has a small but real advantage in development and central space.
How many games feature the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation: d3?
Over 112K Lichess games have reached the Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation: d3 position. White wins 47.9%, Black wins 47.2%, with 4.9% draws — based on real rated games.