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Petrov’s Defense: 4 quick facts

  • Petrov’s Defense is named for the 19th-century Russian chess master Alexander Petrov, who first analyzed these lines. It’s also known as the Russian Game.
  • It's a solid opening for Black that has been played by many grandmasters and world champions.
  • Instead of defending their own e-pawn, Black immediately counterattacks White’s e-pawn.
  • Although some lines are sharp, this opening has a reputation for ending in draws.

Petrov’s Defense: The moves

Here are the moves for Petrov’s Defense:

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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

A gif showing the opening moves for Petrov’s Defense: 1. White’s e-pawn moves to e4 and Black’s e-pawn moves to e5. 2. White’s knight moves to f3 and Black’s knight moves to f6.

This unconventional opening can be a great surprise weapon for opponents used to and expecting the more common 2… Nc6.

Flip the script

Take your time to learn a couple critical lines, and you’ll have an opening that’s playable from beginner level all the way to grandmaster.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!