Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6
Scandinavian Defense: Main Line, Mieses Variation (B01). The line runs 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 — the move order matters, and this is the one the theory follows.
Qa5 steps out of Nc3’s attack while pinning the c3-knight to the king in some lines. Black accepts a small development deficit in exchange for a simple, healthy pawn structure.
White should gain time with d4, Nf3 and Bd2 without chasing the queen blindly. Black aims for ...c6, ...Bf5 and ...e6, after which the early queen trip has a clear purpose.