Answers.Body: <p>3.Nce2, followed by Ng3, Nf3, Bc4, O-O, etc. is reasonable. </p>
  
  <p>A thematic game to reference is <a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1186636" rel="nofollow">http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1186636</a></p>
  
  <p>In general, however, 2.Nc3 isn't known as the best theoretical response.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-04-12T02:38:04.523Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-04-12T02:38:04.523Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: disha
Body: <p>I started out with a simple opening: <code>1. e4 d5 2. Nc3</code> and then the computer played <code>2... d4</code>, surprising me, as I had never encountered it before. Since then, I've been trying to analyse the possible ways to see if I can make this turn in my favor or if it simply means my knight is going to go on a less active square; so I wanted to know what was the best way to counter this move. Please note, I am a casual player trying to get into more intermediate/advanced chess and if you have any programs or online suggestions on teaching me openings I would love to hear them. Thanks.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-04-02T23:28:34.867Z
Comments.Text: Note that `2. Nc3` is much less common than `2. exd5`. By playing `2... d4`, Black gains a spacial advantage, so White's best bet may be to attempt to undermine Black's center. Consider also the Van Geet Attack with `Nce2-g3`, usually activating both knights on the kingside.
Comments.UserDisplayName: lily
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-04-03T00:44:48.407Z
Comments.Text: You're in luck. It just so happens that one of my favorite chess openings websites latest video is on the Scandanavian: http://chessopenings.com/scandinavian/
Comments.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-04-03T06:49:19.960Z
Comments.Text: To expand Arafinwe's answer, after `Nce2-g3` the Van Geet Attack usually puts pressure on Black kingside with `Nf3` then `Bc4` (or `Bb5`), `0-0`, `d3`. Another option is the King's Indian Attack with `Nce2, d3, g3, Bg2, f4, Nf3, 0-0`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: javatutorial
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-04-03T12:13:51.703Z
Comments.Text: Reiterating Arafinwe's point that the overwhelmingly most common move is 2.exd5. Especially if you are a casual player, this makes more sense than getting into lines like the Van Geet where you give Black a lot of central space in return for an attack on the kingside.
Comments.UserDisplayName: dfan
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-04-04T11:07:07.510Z
Comments.Text: Agreed with all the above. The reason why you are asking how to deal with the uncomfortable choice you have after 2...d4 is because 2. Nc3 was just a bad move to begin with. 2. exd5 Qxd5 exposes the white queen and gives you a lot of free tempi to chase it around while accelerating your development. It's just too attractive of a move to forgo in favor of 2. Nc3.
Comments.UserDisplayName: flicflac
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-10-08T21:52:13.820Z
Comments.Text: The definitive work on this opening IMHO is Knight on the Left (1.Nc3) by Harald Keilhack
Comments.UserDisplayName: mleonard
Tags: <opening><engines><scandinavian-defense>
Title: Scandinavian: 2. Nc3 d4
ThreadText: # Scandinavian: 2. Nc3 d4
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-02)
  
  I started out with a simple opening: `1. e4 d5 2. Nc3` and then the computer played `2... d4`, surprising me, as I had never encountered it before. Since then, I've been trying to analyse the possible ways to see if I can make this turn in my favor or if it simply means my knight is going to go on a less active square; so I wanted to know what was the best way to counter this move. Please note, I am a casual player trying to get into more intermediate/advanced chess and if you have any programs or online suggestions on teaching me openings I would love to hear them. Thanks.
  
  **Tags:** opening, engines, scandinavian-defense
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Note that `2. Nc3` is much less common than `2. exd5`. By playing `2... d4`, Black gains a spacial advantage, so White's best bet may be to attempt to undermine Black's center. Consider also the Van Geet Attack with `Nce2-g3`, usually activating both knights on the kingside.  
  > **username_2**: You're in luck. It just so happens that one of my favorite chess openings websites latest video is on the Scandanavian: http://chessopenings.com/scandinavian/  
  > **username_3**: To expand Arafinwe's answer, after `Nce2-g3` the Van Geet Attack usually puts pressure on Black kingside with `Nf3` then `Bc4` (or `Bb5`), `0-0`, `d3`. Another option is the King's Indian Attack with `Nce2, d3, g3, Bg2, f4, Nf3, 0-0`.  
  > **username_4**: Reiterating Arafinwe's point that the overwhelmingly most common move is 2.exd5. Especially if you are a casual player, this makes more sense than getting into lines like the Van Geet where you give Black a lot of central space in return for an attack on the kingside.  
  > **username_5**: Agreed with all the above. The reason why you are asking how to deal with the uncomfortable choice you have after 2...d4 is because 2. Nc3 was just a bad move to begin with. 2. exd5 Qxd5 exposes the white queen and gives you a lot of free tempi to chase it around while accelerating your development. It's just too attractive of a move to forgo in favor of 2. Nc3.  
  > **username_6**: The definitive work on this opening IMHO is Knight on the Left (1.Nc3) by Harald Keilhack  
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2013-04-12. Score: 1
  
  3.Nce2, followed by Ng3, Nf3, Bc4, O-O, etc. is reasonable.
  
  A thematic game to reference is <http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1186636>
  
  In general, however, 2.Nc3 isn't known as the best theoretical response.
  
  
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