Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation: what should White play?

In the Scandinavian Defense: Richter Variation (ECO B01), White's most active and engine-preferred choice is c4, evaluated at +0.85. This move immediately challenges Black's centralized knight on d5 while gaining crucial space in the center. With 329,405 games recorded at this junction, White routinely seizes the initiative by expanding their pawn structure and preparing natural piece development.

Gaining Space with c4

The central advance c4 attacks the d5 knight, driving it away from its influential central outpost. An illustrative engine continuation demonstrates how play typically unfolds: c4 Nb6 Nc3 Bg7 Be2 O-O. By displacing the knight, White secures an enduring space advantage and smoothly establishes harmonic coordination between the queenside minor pieces and the kingside pawns.

Natural Development via Be2

A quieter alternative with comparable evaluation is Be2, assessed at +0.87. This classical developing move prioritizes king safety and allows White to transpose into similar central setups on subsequent moves. As seen in the engine sequence Be2 Bg7 c4 Nb6 Nc3 O-O, White frequently transposes to the main central squeeze after completing rudimentary kingside coordination.

Alternative Approaches

Other playable options exist if White prefers to deviate from the standard pawn pushes. The probe h3 (+0.81) controls key squares on the kingside, leading to lines like h3 e6 Bg5 f6 Bh4 Nc6. More aggressive developing checks such as Bb5+ (+0.61) prompt Bb5+ c6 Be2 Bg7 c4 Nc7, whereas Bc4 (+0.52) directly eyes the d5-knight and continues along Bc4 Bg7 O-O O-O c3 h6. Across all these variations, White retains a solid positional plus out of the opening.