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Petrov Defence
The Petrov Defence begins after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. It is one of Black's most solid replies to 2. Nf3, and is a favourite of players who want sound, balanced positions and do not fear a long game.
- For black
- Solid
- Symmetrical
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
- Colour:
- Played by Black
- Style:
- Solid and symmetrical
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate
- Named after:
- Alexander Petrov, the Russian master who analysed it with Carl Jaenisch in the 1830s and 1840s.
- Trivia:
- Viswanathan Anand once resigned after only six moves of a Petrov, falling for the pin 5... Bf5?? 6. Qe2 against Alonso Zapata in 1988.
- Variations:
- Classical. Nimzowitsch. Cozio. Modern. Stafford.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapidClassical
Best suited for rating
1200-2200
Why play the Petrov Defence?
The Petrov Defence answers an attack with an attack.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3, Black does not defend the e5-pawn. Instead, 2... Nf6 attacks the e4-pawn.
The idea is to keep things level. In the main line 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4, Black drives the knight back before taking on e4, so material stays even and the pawns often end up mirroring each other.
Black has to know more than one setup. The Classical Attack is the main line, the Modern Attack strikes in the centre at once, and the Three Knights Game often turns into the Four Knights.
The catch is that the Petrov works best when White has to play for a win. Against a weaker opponent, Black must create winning chances from quiet, balanced positions, and the early queen trade of the Cozio Attack leaves very few.
What Black gets is a sound defence, in which natural development is enough to reach equal main lines. That reliability has brought it into several world championship matches.
Try the Petrov Defence yourself!
Why the Petrov Defence is good with the:
Low risk - White can press in the main lines for a long time with little danger of losing.
Steering wheel - White picks the character of the game, from a central strike with 3. d4 to an early queen trade with 5. Qe2.
Clear plan - In the main lines White challenges the knight on e4 with c4, Nc3 and Re1, which gives the middlegame a clear direction.
Suited for - Steady players who enjoy pressing in quiet, balanced positions.
Why the Petrov Defence is good with the white pieces
Low risk - White can press in the main lines for a long time with little danger of losing.
Steering wheel - White picks the character of the game, from a central strike with 3. d4 to an early queen trade with 5. Qe2.
Clear plan - In the main lines White challenges the knight on e4 with c4, Nc3 and Re1, which gives the middlegame a clear direction.
Suited for - Steady players who enjoy pressing in quiet, balanced positions.
Why the Petrov Defence is good with the black pieces
Rock solid - Natural development is enough for Black to reach equal positions in the main lines.
Central knight - In the main line the knight on e4 blocks the open e-file and makes it hard for White to make progress in the centre.
Half point - Against a stronger opponent a draw is a good result, and the solid main lines make it a realistic target.
Suited for - Careful, well-prepared players who want a sound defence and do not mind long games.
Strategy
Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.
White's pawn breaks
White aims c2-c4 at d5 and e4 to destabilise Black's centre, then expands where Black's reply allows.
Black's pawn breaks
Black holds e4, often with ...f5 and with or without the knight, as losing central light squares usually gives White the advantage.
Key squares
The e4-square and the open e-file are where most of the middlegame fight takes place.
The e4-knight
Black meets c4 with ...Nb4 against the d3-bishop and ...Bf5, keeping the key light squares even if pieces are traded.
Traps and tactics
Four traps that catch both sides.
Themes
Danger on the e-file
With both e-pawns gone, a queen on the e-file can pin a piece to the king or set up a discovered check.
Mirror image
The pawns often mirror each other, so the game turns on whether White can make anything of the extra tempo.
The knight on e4
Black's knight on e4 is the heart of the Petrov: while it stands supported, White struggles to make progress in the centre.
The long game
Many Petrov games are long and quiet, and Black's chances often come only when White presses too hard.
History
The history of the Petrov Defence, from its origins to modern play.
1512
Damiano's legacy
Pedro Damiano examines the opening in his book, and the copycat reply 3... Nxe4 still carries his name.
1830s-1840s
The Russian Game
Alexander Petrov finds the key move 3... d6, and Carl Jaenisch publishes his analysis in 1842. Their work gives the opening both its names.
1895
Steinitz strikes
Wilhelm Steinitz meets the Petrov with 3. d4 three times against Harry Pillsbury in St Petersburg, scoring two wins and a draw.
1980s
Drawing weapon
Anatoly Karpov makes the Petrov one of his main weapons, and it becomes one of Black's most reliable ways to draw at the top level.
2004-2021
Title-match staple
Vladimir Kramnik opens his 2004 title defence with it, and Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi both rely on it as challengers against Magnus Carlsen.
2020s
Still level
Engines rate the main lines as level, and the Petrov remains a trusted choice for top players who want a solid answer to 1. e4.
Model Games
Title-match games that show the Petrov from both sides.
FAQ
The Petrov Defence begins after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. Instead of defending the e5-pawn, Black counter-attacks the e4-pawn with the knight.
Yes, for players who like solid positions. The plans are clear, but the symmetry hides pitfalls, and copying White for one move too many can lose the queen to a discovered check.
It is solid. Engines rate the main lines as level, and many top-level games end in a draw, though both sides keep chances to play for a win.
Black keeps the game level by hitting e4 instead of defending e5. The knight on e4 then becomes the centre of the fight: Black supports it, while White tries to drive it away with c4 and Re1.
It is the main line, 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4. White builds a centre and prepares Bd3, castling and c4 to challenge the knight on e4, while Black supports it with ...d5.
It is 5. Qe2, which pins the knight on e4 against the king. After 5... Qe7 the queens often come off early, and the game turns into a quiet, queenless fight.
Both start with 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 and develop the knights early. In the Petrov, Black plays 2... Nf6 and attacks e4 at once, while the Four Knights begins with 2... Nc6, and 3. Nc3 Nc6 in the Petrov leads straight into it.
There is no single best line. Take on e5 with 3. Nxe5 for the main lines, strike at once with 3. d4 for open play, or choose 3. Nc3, which often turns into the Four Knights.
Anatoly Karpov, Artur Yusupov, Boris Gelfand, Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand, Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi have all used it.
Choose the Philidor Defence if you want a compact position that guards e5 with a pawn. Choose the Petrov Defence if you want open lines, active pieces and main lines that engines rate as level.