English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation
The Malvinas Variation is 3...Qa5 after 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3, a Scandinavian setup with colors reversed. White has a central majority and gains time, while Black uses the queen on a5 to pin the c3 knight once White's d-pawn moves.
- Moves
- 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5
- ECO
- A10
- Engine
- +0.78 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 1,168 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 55.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 4.d4 is the engine's choice. The c3 knight is then pinned against the king, so Bd2 is a common follow-up.
- Build with Nf3 and e4, as in the second engine line; the d and e pawns are White's key edge.
- 4.b4 is a gambit: after ...Qxb4 and Rb1, White gains time and Nb5 hits c7.
- Use Nd5 or Nb5 to hit c7 when Black's queen is far away.
Black
- Against 4.d4, the engine gambits with ...e5. After dxe5, ...Nc6 and ...Bc5 give quick development.
- Against Nf3 and e4, ...c5 and ...e6 build a solid Sicilian-style setup.
- ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 give a plain Scandinavian setup.
- Keep the queen safe on a5 or b6; do not let White gain more time on it.
Plans and pawn structure
White's central majority is the theme. After d4 and e4, White aims for space, short castling and play in the center, while Black hits back with ...e5 or ...c5. The queen on a5 is useful for pins but can be a target for b4 or Bd2. If Black completes development with ...Nf6, ...Nc6 and short castling, the game is solid. If White gets e4 and d4 in with good development, the center gives a lasting edge.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.78: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.78 4.d4 e5 5.dxe5 Nc6 6.f4 Bc5
- +0.74 4.Nf3 c5 5.e4 e6 6.d4 cxd4
- +0.53 4.b4 Qxb4 5.Rb1 Qc5 6.Nf3 Nf6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
1,168 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, play d4 or Nf3 with e4 and develop fast. Do not rush b4 unless you know the gambit. As Black, do not leave the queen open to more attacks; play ...e5 or ...c5 and develop quickly.
Questions
What are the moves of the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation?
The English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation starts 1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5. Its ECO code is A10.
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.78 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 1,168 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.6%. A solid choice for Scandinavian players, but White's central majority gives a lasting edge.
What is the main idea of the English Opening: Anglo-Scandinavian Defense, Malvinas Variation?
Black plays a Scandinavian against the English, with the queen on a5. White uses the extra central pawn to build a center, while Black develops and hits back with ...e5 or ...c5.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is d4, with Nf3 and b4 close behind. 4.d4 claims the center, and Black must deal with the e5 or c5 push next.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.