Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation: what to play after Qe5+?
- Games played
- 12M
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +1.02
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
White to playPosition before the recommended move. Green arrow: the recommended move.
One way to reach it: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qe5+
FEN
rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/4q3/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq -Understanding the position: Be2 and the alternatives
In the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation, White faces a check against e1 and must resolve the threat immediately. The objectively strongest and most popular response is Be2, which develops a piece while shielding the king. Chosen in 58.3% of the 11,764,482 recorded games, this developing block carries an engine evaluation of +1.02 and scores 56.0% for White.
Developing with Be2
Blocking with the bishop represents the classical treatment of this position. By choosing Be2, White prepares kingside castling and leaves central squares open for subsequent pawn pushes. The engine's preferred continuation runs Be2 Bg4 d4 Bxe2 Ngxe2 Qa5, where White comfortably regains control of the center and secures an uncompromised piece layout.
Alternatives: Knight and Queen Blocks
White has alternative ways to parry the check, though with varied strategic outcomes:
- Qe2 is the second most common choice, occurring in 28.6% of games with a 53.4% score and an evaluation of +0.25. The line
Qe2 Qxe2+ Bxe2 Nc6 Nd5 Kd8leads to an immediate exchange of queens, reducing tactical tension. - Nge2 occurs in 12.7% of games, scoring 56.3% with an evaluation of +0.67. Play may proceed along
Nge2 Nf6 d4 Qa5 Nf4 Ne4. - Nce2 remains rare at 0.4% (46K games), evaluated at +0.13 with a 50.4% score, continuing with
Nce2 Qa5 Nf3 Nf6 c3 g6.
Severe Mistakes to Avoid
Moving the knight to e4 is a catastrophic error. Although played in 603 recorded games, Ne4 drops a full piece to Ne4 Qxe4+ Be2 Qxg2 Bf3 Qg6. This blunder receives an engine evaluation of -4.87 and drops White's score to just 26.5%.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 12M games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be2Engine pick | +1.02 | 6.86M | 56% | |
| Qe2 | +0.25 | 3.37M | 53% | |
| Nge2 | +0.67 | 1.50M | 56% | |
| Nce2 | +0.13 | 46K | 50% | |
| Ne4 | -4.87 | 603 | 26% |
Evaluation in pawns, from White's point of view: + favours White, − favours Black. White score: White's wins plus half the draws, over the games where that move was played and the result is known.
The line
More positions in the Scandinavian Defense
- White to playBest moveexd5Pawn e4 → d5Scandinavian Defense153M games
- Black to playBest moveNf6Knight g8 → f6Scandinavian Defense101M games
- White to playBest moveNc3Knight b1 → c3Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation71M games
- Black to playBest moved4Pawn d5 → d4Scandinavian Defense26M games
- Black to playBest moveNxd5Knight f6 → d5Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation22M games
- Black to playBest movec5Pawn c7 → c5Scandinavian Defense22M games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation?
White to play. Stockfish recommends Be2 (Bishop f1 → e2), evaluated at +1.02: White is better.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 12M times in the opening book.