Scandinavian Defence

The idea

The most direct answer to 1.e4: Black challenges the king's pawn on the very first move. After the centre is exchanged, the queen usually comes out early to recapture, which breaks a beginner's rule — but here it is well-timed, because the queen retreats to safety while Black completes fast, harmonious development.

Your plan (Black)

Recapture on d5, tuck the queen onto a safe square, and develop quickly and simply with ...Nf6, ...c6, ...Bf5 and a kingside castle, reaching a solid, easy-to-play position with no weaknesses.

Heading into the middlegame

The Scandinavian is solid and scheme-like — you build the same healthy setup almost every game. After tucking the queen away, play ...Nf6, then ...c6 (vital: it gives the queen a permanent c7 bolt-hole and stops Nb5 ideas), get the light bishop OUT with ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 before ...e6 locks it in, then ...e6, ...Bd6 or ...Be7, ...O-O, ...Nbd7. You have no weaknesses; free yourself later with ...c5 or ...e5 and head for a comfortable middlegame or endgame. The one rule: never leave the queen where a knight or bishop hits it with real tempo.