Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nf6/3. Nxe5/3...d6

From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Petrov Defence
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6

Petrov Defence[edit | edit source]

White's choice is limited. The main line suggests to retreat knight by playing 4. Nf3. However, 4. Nd3!? has been tried, though it is not as promising because it blocks the d pawn. 4. Nc4 may look like another unique idea, but according to computers it is only as effective as 4. Nd3 or even, worse than Nd3. It is been marked as ineffective by certain people,[citation needed] but it is another idea that is worth trying.[citation needed] On the positive side, no pawn is blocked, unlike in Nd3. The main issue with 4. Nc4 is that the knight is in the center of the board in an odd position and can't return to a natural development square, like f3 or c3. It will be chased around quite a bit. White can also try the Cochrane Gambit 4. Nxf7, a dangerous line for both players.

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6

4 5
Main line Nf3
-
-
Nxe4
=
Cochrane Gambit Nxf7
-
-
Kxf7
=
Karklin-Marklovsky Variation Nd3!?
-
-
Nxe4
=
Paulsen Attack Nc4!?
-
-
Nxe4
=

When contributing to this Wikibook, please follow the Conventions for organization.

References[edit | edit source]