I've been practicing against the computer.  I always take the white pieces and open with K4. Sometimes the computer responds with Q5. I have yet to find a way  to play against this move that leads to a competitive game. I keep getting killed. I tried taking the Pawn, Q4, and a few others but he always messes me up.  What should I do?

review your game, find a move that works and remember it, learn the openings, and play easier ppl, gl

e4 d5

exd5 qxd5

nc3 qa5

bd2

My Majestic Chess ($10)program does the same.  It attacks insanely.  Firstly, use consistent notation.  P-Q4 for black=d5

e4 d5

2exd Qxd5

3Nc3 Qe6+ (if your program is as bad as mine).

Now here you have to have some thought, you don't want your pieces overly hemmed in, but I think best is:

4Be2 Qf6

5 Bf3 (a usually awkward arrangement but actually works out well here)

....e5

6Ne2 Nf6 Necessary before moving queen's bishop,

70-0 Bf5

8d3 and you are now solid and can start kicking him around

Good luck

I've tried everything. I've played about 40 games against that opening using all the variations suggested here and elsewhere.  I have't won a single game.  A few times I got the advantage early, but I cannot sustain it.  Granted, I'm a beginner, but I beat the computer regularly against every other opening it tries.

As soon as I move on to learning how to play the black pieces I'm going to use nothing but that opening against K4.  That's how strong it is.   

The Scandinavian is quite different to the other e4 openings because white cannot maintain e4. Instead the claim to the centre comes from d4 played at some point. If this is true for your games varying your openings might be useful to get some experience in d4 openings which are usually different to e4 but might be more similar to the Scandinavian.

Also just because the computer is bringing out the queen early doesn't mean that it is playing stupidly. If it follows 1.e4 d5 2.exd Qxd 3.Nc3 Qa5 then it is following standard lines and treating as offbeat would just result in overpressing.

 That's exactly what the computer is doing.

I finally figured out a strategy to beat the computer!!  Woo Hoo

Sounds like you need to play a stronger computer and/or use stronger settings if you are beating it regularly!

That's the next step. LOL