Petrov's Defense
The Petrov's Defense (ECO C42–C43) is a chess opening that begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6.
♜
♞
♝
♛
♚
♝
♜
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♞
♟
♟
♞
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♟
♜
♞
♝
♛
♚
♝
♜
The main line
The Petrov's Defense is reached by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 (ECO C42). It's one of 50 named lines under this opening in the book.
Named variations (16)
- Classical Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4(C42) - Modern Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4(C43) - Cochrane Gambit —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7(C42) - Stafford Gambit Accepted —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6(C42) - Damiano Variation —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4(C42) - Italian Variation —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4(C42) - Three Knights Game —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3(C42) - Stafford Gambit —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6(C42) - Moody Gambit —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4(C42) - Karklins-Martinovsky Variation —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3(C42) - Paulsen Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nc4(C42) - French Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3(C42) - Kaufmann Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4(C42) - Cozio Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2(C42) - Millennium Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3(C42) - Nimzowitsch Attack —
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3(C42)
Analyze the Petrov's Defense
Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.
← Back to all chess openings. New to opening study? See move classifications and the glossary.