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

Valencian variation
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
	Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR
	Moves: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd8
	ECO code: B01
	Parent: Scandinavian defence

3...Qd8 · Valencian variation

Black un-develops their queen. Back on d8 she is very safe but has limited scope, and Black will have to spend some more time developing her again later.

White now has a free hand to continue development. The main move is 4. d4, taking space in the centre and allowing the queen's bishop into the game. The main line continues 4...Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 c6 (7...Qxd4?? allows 8. Qxb7 winning Black's rook).

History

3...Qd8 is the continuation depicted in Scachs d'amor, the 15th century Valencian poem depicting a chess game between Francesc de Castellví (as Mars) and Narcís Vinyoles (as Venus). It is notable as perhaps the oldest recorded chess game.^[1]^[2]

Prior to the 20th century, 3...Qd8 was often considered the main line. Carl Jaenisch and Howard Staunton both characterised it as "best" and gave the continuation 4. d4 Bf5 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4, White stands better.^[3]^[4]

In the 1960s, 3...Qd8 experienced a revival after it was played by David Bronstein against Andrija Fuderer in 1959.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.

Sample game

Robert Fischer versus Karl Robatsch, 1962.
Varna Olympiad, Varna, Bulgaria.^[6]

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

The Valencian variation, an ancient approach to the Scandinavian.

4. d4 g6

Black reinvigorates the opening with hypermodern ideas, giving up the centre with plans to attack it. ...g6 prepares to fianchetto the bishop. They delay ...Nf6, intending ...Nh6 and ...Nf5.

5. Bf4 Bg7 6. Qd2!

White's pawn on d4 is not really hanging. If 6...Bxd4?? 7. O-O-O pins the bishop, and 7...c5 8. Nb5 (threatens Nc7+) Na6 9. c3 +- or 7...Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nd5 e5 10. Nf3 +- and "Black will never get out of the opening alive."^[7]

After 6...Qd2 Qxd4 7. Qxd4 Bxd4, Fischer gives 8. Nb5 Bb6 9. Nxc7+ Bxc7 10. Bxc7;^[7] an improvement is 8. Nd5! Bb6 9. Bxc7!, and the line continues 8...Be6 10. Bb5+ Nc6 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Bxb6 ±.

6. Qd2 makes it impossible for Black to achieve ...Nh6.

6...Nf6 7. O-O-O c6 8. Bh6 O-O?!

Better would be for Black to concede they won't be castling kingside and play 8...Bxh6 9. Qxh6. Castling short, into White's attack, leaves Black beyond hope.

9. h4 Qa5 10. h5

White wishes to tear open Black's king's side and expose the king, e.g. 10...Rd8? 11. hxg6 fxg6 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Qh6+.

6...gxh5

Best was 6...Bf5 so that after 7. hxg6 the bishop could retake.

11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. Nge2 Rd8 13. g4

White can offer another pawn for sacrifice because of the vulnerability of Black's king and strength of White's attack. If 13...Nxg4?! 14. Rdg1! wins with 14...Ndf6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. f3.

13...Nf8 14. gxh5 Ne6 15. Rdg1

White now attacks along the open g-file.

15...Kh8 16. Bxg7+ Nxg7 17. Qh6 Rg8 18. Rg5 Qd8 19. Rhg1 Nf5?

A blunder of a piece.

20. Bxf5 1-0

White resigns. If 20...Bxf5 21. Rxg8+ Qxg8 22. Rxg8+ Rxg8 +-.

This game killed the reputation of the 4...g6 line. Emms writes it "has been under a cloud ever since the crushing win for White in Fischer-Robatsch, Varna Olympiad 1962."^[8]

Theory table