Petrov Defence

Play as BlackDefence

Black mirrors White's attack and aims for a solid, equal game.

The main line, move by move

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

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... e5 — Black claims the center too.
3. 2. Nf3 — Retreat the knight to its best square.
4. 2... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. Nxe5 — Takes the pawn on e5.
6. 3... d6 — Attack the knight on e5 and win back the pawn.
7. 4. Nf3 — Retreat the knight to its best square.
8. 4... Nxe4 — Takes the pawn on e4.
9. 5. d4 — Take the center and open lines for the pieces.
10. 5... d5 — Strike in the center and block the d-file.
11. 6. Bd3 — Brings the bishop into the game.
12. 6... Be7 — Brings the bishop into the game.
13. 7. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
14. 7... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
15. 8. Re1 — Put the rook on the e-file against the knight on e4.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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