Caissa Codex
C42

Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation

Chess diagram: Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation after 4. Nd3

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Statistics from Lichess

96,606 games: White 47.2% / Draw 6.9% / Black 45.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
93,65094K
994994
791791
442442
315315
107107
7979
6969

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.11 The position is about equal

Best play: 4... Nxe4 5. Nf4 d5 6. d4 c6 7. Bd3 Nd6 8. O-O Be7 9. Nd2

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation (ECO C42, Open Games) is a variation of Petrov's Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nd3 (4 moves).

In 96,606 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.2%, Black 45.9% and 6.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Nxe4, in 97% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. Nd3, the position after Petrov's Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Petrov's Defense: Karklins-Martinovsky Variation (C42)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-karklins-martinovsky-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-karklins-martinovsky-variation