Petrov's Defense

The idea

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, Black doesn't defend the e5 pawn with 2...Nc6. Instead, 2...Nf6 attacks White's e4 pawn in return. The position is symmetrical, and Black's aim is a solid, equal game rather than an early fight.

White's main tries are 3.Nxe5, taking the pawn, and 3.d4, opening the center at once. The opening is also called the Russian Game.

Plans for White

Take on e5 with 3.Nxe5, but after 3...d6 retreat with 4.Nf3 before winning anything back. After 4...Nxe4 the usual plan is 5.d4 and 6.Bd3, developing quickly and attacking the knight on e4, or 5.Nc3 to trade it off and castle queenside.

White's edge is small, so the long-term plan is a slightly freer position: put pressure on the knight on e4 and the d5 pawn, and try to use the e-file.

Plans for Black

Answer 3.Nxe5 with 3...d6 first, kicking the knight away. Only then take back on e4 with 4...Nxe4. Black then supports the knight on e4 with ...d5, develops with ...Be7 or ...Bd6 and ...Nc6, and castles.

Black's game is about solidity: the pawn on d5 and a well-placed knight on e4 give Black a fair share of the center.

Watch out for

For Black, copying White too long. After 3.Nxe5, taking back at once with 3...Nxe4? runs into 4.Qe2: the knight on e4 is pinned to the e-file, and 4...Nf6?? loses the queen to 5.Nc6+, a discovered check that also attacks d8. The safe reply is 4...Qe7.

For White, the Stafford Gambit, 3...Nc6, a gambit full of traps. Careful play keeps White a pawn up, but natural-looking moves can lose quickly (see the Stafford Gambit page).

History

Wilhelm Steinitz recommended 3.d4 in The Modern Chess Instructor (1889), and Emanuel Lasker played 8.Re1 in the main line against Harry Pillsbury at Saint Petersburg 1895-96. Carl Jaenisch is credited with the 8.c4 Nb4 line, which has been popular for over a century.