ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2

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

9… Be6+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Be6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.389… Be6 10. Qa4+ Qd7 11. Qxd7+ Bxd7 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Nb5 O-O-O 14. Bf4
  2. +0.399… O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1
  3. +0.439… Bf5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Re1 O-O 12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Be6 for Black, continuing 10. Qa4+ Qd7 11. Qxd7+ Bxd7 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Nb5 O-O-O 14. Bf4. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 9… O-O (+0.39) and 9… Bf5 (+0.43).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Chigorin Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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, Main Line?
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+).