Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code C42, part of the Petrov's Defense family. It goes 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... e5. After 6 moves it is White to move. After the last move White is a pawn ahead in material. 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. Nxe5 – White takes on e5 with the knight
3... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
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.
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