Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
16,504 games: White 43.2% / Draw 10.8% / Black 46.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 6,8996,899 | ||
| 3,4703,470 | ||
| 3,1263,126 | ||
| 2,1042,104 | ||
| 856856 | ||
| 3030 | ||
| 1010 | ||
| 77 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.29 The position is about equal
Best play: 5. O-O d5 6. dxe5 Bg4 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qd7 9. Re1 Bc5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation (ECO C43, Open Games) is a variation of Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6 (4 moves).
In 16,504 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.2%, Black 46.0% and 10.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Bxe4, in 42% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation
5. Nxe5 scores best for White: 55.2%, with White winning 48.8% and Black 38.5% of 2,104 games. The most played answer, 5. Bxe4, scores lowest: 45.3% in 6,899 games. Stockfish's first choice is 5. O-O.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation (C43)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/petrovs-defense-modern-attack-murrey-variation