Petrov Defense

Black's impenetrable fortress against 1.e4: neutralize White's initiative with symmetrical counterattacks and rock-solid defense!

The Petrov Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) is the chosen weapon of world champions from Karpov and Kramnik to Caruana to shut down White's attacking ambitions. Across 14 thoroughly analyzed lines, you master the classical 3.Nxe5, refute the wild Cochrane Gambit, defuse the Steinitz Variation, and dominate favorable endgames.

Chapter 1: Classical Main Line 3.Nxe5

The backbone of the Petrov: after 3.Nxe5 d6! 4.Nf3 Nxe4, Black achieves complete equality against the main line 5.d4, the tricky Nimzowitsch Attack 5.Nc3, queenless endgames after 5.Qe2, and lines with 5.Bd3.

  1. 1. Classical Main Line 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5…
  2. 2. Nimzowitsch Attack 5.Nc3 Nxc3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3…
  3. 3. Queen Variation 5.Qe2 Qe7 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7…
  4. 4. Variation 5.Bd3 d5 6.O-O Bd6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5…
  5. 5. Quiet Variation 5.d3 Nf6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d3 Nf6…
  6. 6. Rapid Attack 5.c4 Be7 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.c4 Be7…
  7. 7. Greed Trap 3...Nxe4?! - How to Avoid & Punish 4.Qe2 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7…

Chapter 2: Steinitz 3.d4, Cochrane Gambit & Traps

Dynamic and sharp battles: central pressure in the Steinitz 3.d4, the wild sacrifice of the Cochrane Gambit (4.Nxf7!?), transpositions to the Four Knights, and deadly opening traps to avoid.

  1. 8. Steinitz Variation 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7…
  2. 9. Steinitz - Open Line 3...exd4 4.e5 Ne4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5…
  3. 10. Cochrane Gambit 4.Nxf7!? Kxf7 - Solid Refutation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4 g6…
  4. 11. Cochrane Gambit - Direct Counterattack 5...c5! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4 c5…
  5. 12. Four Knights Transposition 3.Nc3 Nc6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.O-O O-O…
  6. 13. Boden-Kieseritzky Gambit 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nc3 Nxc3 5.dxc3 f6…
  7. 14. Modern Variation with 5.Qe2: Dynamic Exit 7...Bf5 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7…