ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Maróczy 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 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. c4 Bh4

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

11. Be3−0.35

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Maróczy 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 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. c4 Bh4, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Be3 for White. Black is slightly better (−0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.3511. Be3 O-O 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Nc3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Bxf2+ 15. Bxf2 Qg5+
  2. −0.4111. g3 Bf6 12. cxd5 Nxd4 13. Bxe4 O-O 14. Bg5 Bxg5 15. Qxd4 Bf6
  3. −0.6411. cxd5 Bxf2+ 12. Kf1 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Ne7 14. Re2 Bxd4 15. Bb5+ c6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Maróczy 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 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. c4 Bh4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Be3 for White, continuing O-O 12. cxd5 Nb4 13. Nc3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Bxf2+ 15. Bxf2 Qg5+. Black is slightly better (−0.35). The next best moves are 11. g3 (−0.41) and 11. cxd5 (−0.64).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Maróczy Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.35: black 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, Maróczy 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+).