Classical Main Line: 3.Nxe5 d6 and 5.d4 is variation 1 of 6 in the Petroff Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO C42). It runs 26 moves and begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 …. The most important line. Black first kicks the knight with 3...d6, then takes on e4 and supports the knight with ...d5. White attacks the e4 knight with Bd3, c4 and Nc3, and Black trades it on c3 at the right moment. The position is solid and close to equal. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre and opens lines for the queen and the f1 bishop.
1... e5 – Black claims an equal share of the centre and frees the f8 bishop.
2. Nf3 – White develops and attacks the e5 pawn.
2... Nf6 – The Petroff Defence. Black does not defend e5. Instead Black attacks the e4 pawn in return.
3. Nxe5 – White takes the pawn. Now Black has to be careful about the order of moves.
3... d6 – First Black kicks the knight away. The e4 pawn will still be there next move.
4. Nf3 – The knight goes back to its best square.
4... Nxe4 – Now the capture is safe. White's knight has left e5, so there is no Nc6 discovered check, and 5.Qe2 is met by 5...Qe7.
5. d4 – White builds a centre and prepares Bd3 to attack the e4 knight.
5... d5 – Black supports the e4 knight with a pawn, so it cannot be chased away easily.
6. Bd3 – The bishop develops toward Black's king and attacks the e4 knight.
6... Nc6 – Black develops the other knight and puts pressure on the d4 pawn.
7. O-O – White castles. The king is safe and the rook can come to e1 later.
7... Be7 – Black develops the bishop and gets ready to castle.
8. c4 – White attacks d5, the pawn that holds the e4 knight in place.
8... Nb4 – The knight jumps to b4 and attacks the d3 bishop. Black wants to trade off White's best attacking piece.
The lesson goes on for 10 more moves, each with its explanation.
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