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1.Opening

Petrov Defense

You play BlackC42SolidIntermediate

Symmetrical and famously solid at top level — but it hides a classic trap you must know.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 …

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Classical Main Line: position after 10 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Classical Main Line: position after 10 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. Counterattack e4 instead of defending e5.
  2. After Nxe5, play ...d6 FIRST. 3...Nxe4? 4.Qe2 is a disaster.
  3. ...d5 supports a strong knight on e4.
3.Main line

Main line · 19 moves

Classical Main Line

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4White grabs the center.
e5Black mirrors.
2
Nf3White attacks e5.
Nf6The Petrov: counterattack e4 instead of defending e5.
3
Nxe5White takes the pawn.
d6Important! Kick the knight first. 3...Nxe4? 4.Qe2 is very dangerous for Black.
After 3…d6
After 3…d6
No. White Black4
Nf3The knight retreats.
Nxe4Now Black regains the pawn safely.
5
d4White takes the center.
d5Supports the knight on e4.
6
Bd3White develops, attacking the e4 knight.
Nc6Develops and hits d4.
After 6…Nc6
After 6…Nc6
No. White Black7
O-OWhite castles.
Be7Prepares to castle.
8
c4White attacks d5 — the e4 knight's support.
Nb4Hits the d3 bishop. If White lets Black take it, Black gets the bishop pair.
9
Be2White keeps the bishop pair.
O-OBlack castles.
After 9…O-O
After 9…O-O
No. White Black10
Nc3White develops, adding another attacker on e4.
After 10.Nc3
After 10.Nc3
4.Play

Practice mode

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5.More

More defenses against 1.e4