Caissa Codex
C43

Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation

Chess diagram: Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation after 6…Nc6

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Statistics from Lichess

277 games: White 48.7% / Draw 6.5% / Black 44.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
122122
7878
3535
2323
77
55
44
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.22 The position is about equal

Best play: 7. Be3 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 Qh4 9. Be3 b6 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. O-O-O O-O-O

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

Overview

Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation (ECO C43, Open Games) is a variation of Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Steinitz Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2 Nc5 6. Nxd4 Nc6 (6 moves).

In 277 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 44.8% and 6.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Nxc6, in 44% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation (C43)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-modern-attack-bardeleben-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-modern-attack-bardeleben-variation