Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6), also called the Russian Game, is a symmetrical counterattack. Instead of defending the e5-pawn, Black attacks White's e4-pawn. It has a drawish reputation, though there are attacking opportunities for both sides and a few lines are quite sharp.

Origins

The opening was first popularised by the Russian player Alexander Petrov in the mid-19th century. The name "Russian Game" recognises the early investigations of the Russian masters Petrov and Carl Jaenisch. It has been used by world champions Vasily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian, Anatoly Karpov and Vladimir Kramnik, and by Fabiano Caruana. In 1980 Bent Larsen beat Karpov in the line with 5...Nd7.

The idea

After 3.Nxe5, the key move is 3...d6!, driving the knight back before taking on e4. The natural 3...Nxe4? is usually regarded as an error: after 4.Qe2 the knight on e4 is attacked, and if Black continues 4...Nf6?? White plays 5.Nc6+, a discovered check that wins the queen. The main line resembles an Exchange French in which Black has the extra move ...Nf6–e4, and White tries to drive the knight from e4 with moves like c4 and Re1.

Main lines

• Classical Attack 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3: the main line.
• Nimzowitsch Attack 5.Nc3: White accepts doubled pawns for quick development and queenside castling.
• Cozio Attack 5.Qe2: forcing simplification and a likely draw.
• Modern Attack 3.d4 (the Steinitz Variation), opening the centre at once.
• Three Knights Game 3.Nc3, often transposing to the Four Knights.
• The Stafford Gambit 3.Nxe5 Nc6 is a dubious but trappy sideline, popular online.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Very solid: Black gets a sound structure and few weaknesses.
• A reliable way to neutralise White's first-move advantage at top level.
• Relatively little theory compared with the open games after 2...Nc6.

Weaknesses

• A drawish reputation. Against a solid opponent, Black's winning chances are limited.
• Symmetrical positions can be hard to win for either side.
• Some lines, such as the Nimzowitsch Attack with long castling, are quite sharp, so Black still needs to know them.

Who should play it

The Petrov suits solid players who want a safe answer to 1.e4, and players who need a draw with Black in important games. It is effective against aggressive 1.e4 players who want open attacking games. It is less suited to players who need to win with Black, because many lines are drawish.

The numbers

The Lichess numbers show a big difference between levels. Below 1400, White wins 53% and Black only 43%. From 1400 to 2200 it evens out to 49–50.5% against 45.6%. Above 2200 it is 47% against 44%. In master games over the board 61% of games are drawn, White wins 27% and Black only 12%.