Chess Codex
Tree path 11 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Petrov's Defense › Petrov's Defense › Petrov's Defense › Petrov's Defense › Petrov's Defense › Classical Attack › Mason-Showalter Variation › Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation › Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game C20
  3. King's Knight Opening C40
  4. Petrov's Defense C42
  5. Petrov's Defense C42
  6. Petrov's Defense C42
  7. Petrov's Defense C42
  8. Petrov's Defense C42
  9. Classical Attack C42
  10. Mason-Showalter Variation C42
  11. Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation C42
  12. Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line C42 you are here
C42

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line

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Overview

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line is a specific line in the Open Games family (ECO C42), arising from a recognised theoretical position.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

Play reaches this position via 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, after 17 plies of opening development.

The line refines Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.

Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.

ECO code
C42
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
17
Parent
Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

13,594 games · White 48.8% / Draw 9.8% / Black 41.4%

MovesGamesW / D / B
O-O9,034
dxc41,780
Bf51,561
Be6781
c6238
Bg485
Nf664
c515

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:15:27

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Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation:

https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-classical-attack-chigorin-variation-main-line