ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8… Bg4+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bg4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.378… Bg4 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. cxd5 Nxd4 12. Bxh7+ Nxh7 13. Qxd4
  2. +0.418… O-O 9. c4 Bf5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3
  3. +0.648… Bf5 9. Nbd2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. c3 Bf6 13. Bf4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bg4 for Black, continuing 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. cxd5 Nxd4 12. Bxh7+ Nxh7 13. Qxd4. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 8… O-O (+0.41) and 8… Bf5 (+0.64).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation?
C42. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).