What is better in Scandinavian

Hello everyone

I 've started this forum to see whta is your opinion about black's third move in Scandinavian Defence.

After...

Black has 3 main lines

1)3...Qa5

2)3...Qd8

and 3)3...Qd6

What do you think is better (or what have you learnt as better) ?

Thank you in advance

The best move by far is Qa5. Qd8 Simply loses time which White already leads in. Qe6 gives nothing but empty threats which White can block and develop at the same time. At the end it is Black's Queen who gets pushed around being weakened in the center of the board. Unless you are playing extremely fast time controls. I would go for Qa5.

Qe6+ is a beginner move, it's not a line at all. Qd6 has received some attention though.

Sorry,

I meant Qd6(I will change it in the 1st comment)

Both 3...Qa5 and 3...Qd6 are reliable... and sort-of-passive. It depends on what you want to achieve in the opening. Both are quite theoretical, too.

If your aim is getting a playable, slightly passive position, with very little theory to memorize, then I recommend 3...Qd8. It isn't even half as bad as most think.

If you hate passive setups, then don't play the Scandinavian.

Also 3...Qa5 has some disadvantages (as always if you move your queen too early). What's theory? Right, it's a collection of played moves (mostly by strong GM's).

All three mentioned lines have their advantages!

On the other hand it would be another line playing 2...Nf6 (instead of 2...Qxd5) ...

By the way there is a line called 'Patzer' 3...Qe5+ which cannot be recommended. Just consult a book on Scandinavian ...

Even the patzer variation (3...Qe5+) is preferrable to the miserable 2...Nf6, which is the definition of passivity, if white does know how to handle it.

The 2...Nf6 Scandinavian is officially dead, no serious player dares to touch it.

Wherever you go with your Queen just don't go on c6.

Maybe you're right. In Scandinavian books however even GM call 2...Nf6 an alternative to 2...Qxd5.

Last game (according to ChessBase online): Wang Hao 2739 - Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2717, St Petersburg 2012 0-1
I. Nepomniachtchi played it twice in this tournament!
(Perhaps this line is miserable exept for Top GM's ...)

I think GMs playing it at top-flight chess today trumps GMs writing about it being playable, unless the books were addressing club players only.

Yes. There is however a "big BUT"!

Lines played successfully by Top GMs will find their way sooner or later to club players as well. (With online databases I would say even sooner than later!)

Of course a GM chooses a move for other reasons than a club player. The main idea behind 2...Nf6 is however not having his queen attacked by 3 Nc3. Therefore even passivity is not quiet right!

Sadly I think this is true.  2...Nf6 is an old bad habit of mine I like to do in blitz, but against prepared opponents the positions I've gotten are passive and uncomfortable at best.  Really the only hope at an advantage is that white is so shocked at getting such a nice position that he gets lazy and goes wrong.

Interesting, post the game?

Yes, very nice example, indeed.

Around move 20, Nepo's position is a disgusting mess. 22.c5 would leave white in command, but also the move played is fine for white.

There are several mistakes later on (it was a rapid game), but after 38.Bxf7+ Nepo could pack and go home. Later on, Wang returned the favour by 41.g3?, while the final position is better for Black, but not necessarily winning (white lost on time).

Is it really necessary trying to prove the validity of an opening based on rapid games?

For that particular opening, this does seem to be the case... I can only sympathise.

From my own study of these three I would put 2. ...Nf6 last and

the two lines with 2. ...Qxd5 about equal. More study needed on my part.

It is possible that the two lines with 2. ...Qxd5 played perfectly by both sides results in a win for White as a very basic opening rule is violated by bringing the queen out so early.

2. ...Nf6 also loses some time due to the threat of c4. 

I know the following game is only a blitz game, but it is actually a critical discussion of Shirov's 8.Nd5!? line and has also been seen in correspondence games.

I agree that Black  is a bit passive here, but just as with the Caro-Kann, the reward for defending solidly for twenty moves is often a structural advantage that can be used in the endgame. The Scandinavian isn't my favorite opening for a variety of reasons, but I do rather like Black's position by move 15 in this game.

A critical line per the position giveen by Smyslov is also 10. c3

Fire, I only said it was possible.

There are other ways to attack 1. e4  d5  2. exd5  Qxd5 other than 3. Nc3

a recent book suggests 3. Nf3 

I don't think 3.Nf3 gives white something concrete. Tiviakov has dealt with it in a theoretical article recently, proving equality for Black.

I believe after 3. Nf3 then

black must play 3. ... Bg4 or he gets a very bad game....