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The Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation: d4 — Playing as Black
The Scandinavian Defence promises Black an active game from the very first move, and the Valencian Variation: d4 is a solid, patient way to handle it. After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 e6, you have voluntarily retreated your queen back to d8 and committed to a sturdy pawn centre with ...e6. The engine assesses this position at +0.85, a clear edge for White — meaning you are starting the middlegame a step behind, but with a firm, defensible structure. Let's see how to navigate this position, what White is likely to do, and where most games go wrong.
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
By playing 4...e6, you are building a resilient, classical pawn chain. Your d-pawn is already challenged by White's d4, and your e6 pawn supports a future ...d5 break or a ...c5 challenge against White's centre. This setup avoids the awkward queen sorties of other Scandinavian lines and aims for a slow, manoeuvring game. You are not trying to refute White's play — instead, you are accepting a slightly worse position (+0.85) in exchange for a solid structure and clear development plans. Your main trumps are that your position has no glaring weaknesses, and you will soon bring out your kingside pieces and castle.
White's Best Move and the Most Common Reply
The engine recommends Nf3, developing the knight and preparing to put pressure on your centre. Across over 1.2 million games, this is also by far the most popular move — White plays it more than six times as often as the next option. The engine's proposed follow-up after Nf3 is Nf6 Bd3 c5, a sequence that directly challenges your d4 pawn. When White plays Nf3, your best plan is to mirror with ...Nf6, bringing out a piece and threatening ...Ng4 or ...Ne4 ideas. After White's Bd3, the timely break ...c5 is the standard way to chip away at White's centre. If you can trade off the d4 pawn, your position becomes much more comfortable.
What the Statistics Reveal
The Lichess database shows that in this exact position, across nearly 1.9 million games, White wins 52.7%, draws 4.7%, and Black wins 42.6%. These numbers confirm the engine's verdict — White scores better, but Black still wins a healthy share. No single White move changes the outcome drastically: the top five replies all give White between 51.3% and 53.0% scoring. What matters more is how well you handle the resulting middlegame. The low draw rate (under 5%) is a standout feature — this is a fighting opening where both sides often play for a win rather than a quiet equality.
The One Mistake to Avoid
Among the known mistakes in this position, d5 stands out. Playing 5.d5 costs you approximately 1.0 pawns of evaluation — the engine says the better move was Nf3 (from White's side). Why is d5 a mistake? It pushes a pawn that you have already stabilised, giving White's knight on c3 a perfect outpost on d5 or creating weaknesses you can't exploit. Around 49,000 games saw this move, and White still scored 51.3% — below their average, suggesting Black has an easier time. Don't be tempted to lash out with d5; the solid approach is to develop with Nf3 and build pressure gradually.
Results across 1,860,549 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 1,212,044 | 53.0% |
| Bf4 | 187,130 | 52.0% |
| Be3 | 112,936 | 52.2% |
| Bc4 | 104,442 | 52.5% |
| d5 | 49,196 | 51.3% |
| a3 | 40,550 | 52.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Scandinavian Defense Valencian Variation d4 a good opening for Black?
It is a playable but slightly worse opening for Black. Stockfish gives it +0.85 in White's favour, and White wins 52.7% of games from this position. However, Black still wins 42.6%, and the position is solid with clear plans — it is a fine choice if you prefer a patient, positional game.
What is the most common move for White after 4...e6 in this variation?
The most common move by far is Nf3, played in over 1.2 million games out of 1.86 million total. It develops a piece and prepares to challenge your centre with moves like Bd3 and c5. Other popular options include Bf4, Be3, and Bc4.
Why is 5.d5 a mistake for White in this position?
The engine identifies 5.d5 as a mistake that loses about 1.0 pawns of evaluation. It pushes a pawn prematurely, giving Black opportunities to exploit the weakened structure. The better move was Nf3, keeping the pressure on without creating weaknesses.
How should Black respond to White's most popular move Nf3?
After Nf3, the engine's recommended continuation is Nf6 by Black, developing the knight and eyeing the centre. White follows with Bd3, and then the key break ...c5 challenges White's d4 pawn — the standard way for Black to free their position in this setup.