Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack

Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack is a chess opening with the ECO code C43, part of the Petrov's Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 5 moves it is Black 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
• 3. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3... Nxe4.

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: Modern Attack course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Petrov's Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6)
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack – adds 3... exd4
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Variation – adds 3... Nxe4 4. Bd3
• Continues with: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Symmetrical Variation – adds 3... d5
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2 Nc5 6. Nxd4 Nc6)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bc5)
• Related line: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Attack (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qxd4)

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