Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code C42. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 4 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 2... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3. Nxe5, 3. d4, 3. Nc3.

About the Petrov's Defense

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, Black counterattacks e4 with 2...Nf6 instead of defending e5. It is symmetrical and very solid.

• After 3.Nxe5, do not copy with 3...Nxe4?; first play 3...d6, then take.
• The trap: 3...Nxe4? 4.Qe2 and the pin on the e-file wins material.
• Black aims for quick development and a safe, equal position.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Petrov's Defense course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: King's Knight Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3)
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense – adds 3. Nxe5
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation – adds 3. Bc4
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Moody Gambit – adds 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game – adds 3. Nc3
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack – adds 3. d4
• Related line: Petrov's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Berger Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Nbd2)

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