Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d5/2. exd5/2...Qxd5/3. Nc3/3...Qd8

= Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation = The retreat with 3...Qd8 was depicted in Castellvi–Vinyoles: the Valencian Variation, the oldest of all Scandinavian lines. Prior to the 20th century, it was often considered the main line, and was characterized as "best" by Howard Staunton. In the 1960s, 3...Qd8 experienced something of a revival after the move was played in a game by Bronstein against GM Andrija Fuderer in 1959. Bronstein's game featured the older line 4.d4 Nf6, while other grandmasters, including Karl Robatsch, explored fianchetto systems with 4.d4 g6 and a later ...Ng8–h6.

The 3...Qd8 variation as a whole remains playable, although it is now considered somewhat passive. It is played particularly by IMs John Bartholomew and Daniel Lowinger, and by the GMs David Garcia Ilundain and Nikola Djukic.

Theory table
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1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8