ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Tarrasch Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4

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

9. cxd5+0.87

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Tarrasch Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. cxd5 for White. White is clearly better (+0.87).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.879. cxd5 Nf6 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc3 Re8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Bb5 a6
  2. +0.829. h3 Bh5 10. cxd5 f5 11. Nc3 Qe7 12. Bc2 Nd7 13. Re1 Qf7
  3. +0.149. a4 c6 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Tarrasch Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Bg4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. cxd5 for White, continuing Nf6 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc3 Re8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Bb5 a6. White is clearly better (+0.87). The next best moves are 9. h3 (+0.82) and 9. a4 (+0.14).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Tarrasch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.87: white is clearly 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, Tarrasch 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+).