2.Nc3 d5: a Scandinavian structure

If White defends e4 with 2.Nc3, Black answers ...d5: after exd5 Nxd5 he gets a solid structure with ...c6 and ...e6.

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4 c6 5.Qf3 e6 6.Nge2 Nd7 7.d4

Move by move

1.e4 – White occupies the centre and opens diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop.
1...Nf6 – The Alekhine Defence: the knight attacks e4 and invites the pawn forward, planning to attack the advanced white pawns later.
2.Nc3 – White defends e4 with the knight and avoids the main lines of the Alekhine.
2...d5 – Black hits e4 with a pawn: if White exchanges, we reach a Scandinavian with the knight already developed.
3.exd5 – White exchanges: after e5 Black would have ...Nfd7 or ...Ne4 with good play.
3...Nxd5 – The knight recaptures in the centre; Black’s queen is not exposed as in the classical Scandinavian.
4.Bc4 – The bishop attacks the d5-knight and aims at f7.
4...c6 – The pawn supports the d5-knight and keeps a solid structure.
5.Qf3 – The queen attacks the d5-knight and lines up with the c4-bishop against f7.
5...e6 – Black defends d5 with a pawn and frees the f8-bishop: White’s pressure fizzles out.
6.Nge2 – The knight goes to e2 so as not to block the f3-queen and to support the c3-knight.
6...Nd7 – The knight develops towards f6 or e5, covering the kingside.
7.d4 – White occupies the centre and opens the c1-bishop’s diagonal.

A solid c6-e6 structure with a strong knight on d5: White has more space, Black has no weaknesses.

...N7f6 defends h7 and d5; then ...Be7 and ...O-O complete development.
...Nxc3 followed by ...Nf6 simplifies and relieves the pressure on the central squares.
...b5 and ...Bb7 chase the c4-bishop and activate the light-squared bishop.
The ...c5 break hits d4 once development is complete.

Qf3 attacks d5 and f7: keep them defended with ...c6 and ...e6.