Petrov's Defense (C42-C43)

50 named lines in this family, ECO C42-C43. Every one of them opens 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

Main line, through 2... Nf6C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

Black mirrors with ...Nf6 and meets attack with symmetry: sound, drawish by reputation, and quietly venomous when White overpresses.

Italian VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4

Main line, after 3. Nxe5, through 3. Nxe5C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5

The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Three Knights GameC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3

Damiano VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4

The e-file is fully open.

Main line, after 3. Nxe5, through 3... d6C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6

Stafford GambitC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6

Cochrane GambitC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7

Karklins-Martinovsky VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3

Main line, after 3. Nxe5, through 4. Nf3C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3

Moody GambitC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Paulsen AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nc4

Damiano Variation, Kholmov GambitC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Qe7

Main line, after 3. Nxe5, through 4... Nxe4C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4

Stafford Gambit Accepted, through 4... dxc6C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6

Classical AttackC42

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

Cochrane Gambit, Bishop Check LineC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. Bc4+

Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

Cochrane Gambit, Center VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4

Cozio AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2

French AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3

Kaufmann AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4

Millennium AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3

Nimzowitsch AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3

Classical Attack, Closed VariationC42

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

Stafford Gambit Accepted, after 5. Nc3C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bc5

Stafford Gambit Accepted, after 5. d3C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5

Classical Attack, Marshall VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6

Classical Attack, Mason-Showalter VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6

Classical Attack, Mason VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O

Classical Attack, Chigorin VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1

Classical Attack, Jaenisch VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4

Classical Attack, Staunton VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6

Classical Attack, Tarrasch VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4

Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Browne AttackC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. cxd5

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the d-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main LineC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2

Classical Attack, Marshall Variation, Chinese GambitC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bg4

Classical Attack, Berger VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Nbd2

Classical Attack, Krause VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. c4

Classical Attack, Marshall TrapC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4 9. cxd5 f5 10. Re1 Bxh2+

Classical Attack, Maróczy VariationC42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. c4 Bh4

Modern Attack, through 3. d4C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4

Modern Attack, after 3... exd4C43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.

Modern Attack, Symmetrical VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 d5

Modern Attack, Center VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3

The structure hands White the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.

Modern Attack, Murrey VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6

Modern Attack, Center AttackC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qxd4

Modern Attack, Steinitz VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2

Modern Attack, Tal GambitC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Bb5

Modern Attack, Bardeleben VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2 Nc5 6. Nxd4 Nc6

Modern Attack, Trifunovic VariationC43

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. c4 Bxe5

Petrov's Defense

The moves every line here plays