ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Closed Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Nf6

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

6. Bd3+0.56

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Closed Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Bd3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.56).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.566. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 d5 9. h3 Re8 10. Bg5 Nbd7
  2. +0.516. c4 d5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nc6
  3. +0.496. h3 d5 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O c4 9. Re1+ Be7 10. Bf1 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Closed Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Bd3 for White, continuing Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 d5 9. h3 Re8 10. Bg5 Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.56). The next best moves are 6. c4 (+0.51) and 6. h3 (+0.49).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Closed Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.56: 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, Closed 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+).