Main Line
The traditional and most natural continuation. Black's queen retreats to d6, maintaining central influence and supporting piece development. This classical approach offers solid play with clear strategic goals.
ECO Code
B01
Difficulty
Beginner-Intermediate
Style
Classical/Positional
Key Players
Alekhine, Bronstein, Hort
Strategic Ideas for Black
- Central queen position: Qd6 maintains influence over the center
- Natural development: ...Nf6, ...Bg4/Bf5, ...e6 for harmonious pieces
- Solid structure: Build a stable pawn chain with ...c6 and ...e6
- Kingside safety: Castle kingside after completing development
- Piece coordination: Coordinate pieces for central control
Main Continuations
Classical Setup
Natural development with bishop pressure on White's knight. Classical and sound.
Solid Fianchetto
Modern approach with kingside fianchetto. Flexible and less forcing.
Early c6
Immediate central reinforcement before piece development. Very solid approach.
Understanding the Central Queen
The queen on d6 serves multiple purposes: it maintains central influence, supports piece development, and can quickly transition to different sectors of the board. Unlike the more modern 3...Qa5, this classical placement is more direct but potentially more vulnerable to tempo-gaining attacks.
Strategic Plans
For White
- Development advantage: Use superior development to create threats
- Central control: Maintain d4 pawn and support with pieces
- Queen harassment: Force the Black queen to move repeatedly
- Initiative pressure: Create threats before Black completes development
For Black
- Efficient development: Complete development quickly to equalize
- Central pressure: Challenge White's center with ...c5 or ...e5
- Piece activity: Activate bishops and knights for counterplay
- King safety: Castle early to secure the king position
Typical Middlegame Plans
Central Breaks
Black's main equalizing moves, challenging White's central pawn presence.
Bishop Development
Active bishop placement creating pressure and preparing further development.
Castling Choices
Flexible castling options depending on the position's requirements.
Common Mistakes
For White: Don't neglect development to chase the Black queen. Focus on completing piece development first.
For Black: Don't allow the queen to become a target. Be ready to retreat it when White creates threats.
Historical Importance
Alekhine's Influence: The great Alexander Alekhine played this line in several important games, helping establish its theoretical foundation. His deep understanding of the resulting positions influenced generations of players.
Bronstein's Contributions: David Bronstein further developed the theory, showing that Black could achieve comfortable positions with accurate play in the main line.
Modern Assessment
While the Main Line with 3...Qd6 has been somewhat superseded by the more flexible 3...Qa5, it remains a perfectly sound approach. The key advantage is its straightforward nature and clear strategic plans. Modern players still employ this line when seeking solid, classical play.
Related Variations
Master the Classical Scandinavian
Learn the traditional approach to the Scandinavian Defense with clear strategic goals and solid piece development.
Back to Scandinavian Defense Explore Modern Variation