ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4… Kxf7−0.58

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Kxf7 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.58).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.584… Kxf7 5. d4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Bc4+ d5 8. Nxd5 Be6 9. O-O
  2. +3.484… Bg4 5. Qxg4 Kxf7 6. Qd1 c6 7. d3 Nbd7 8. Be2 d5 9. O-O
  3. +3.994… Qe7 5. Nxh8 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nd4 7. d3 Be6 8. Be2 O-O-O 9. Be3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Kxf7 for Black, continuing 5. d4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Bc4+ d5 8. Nxd5 Be6 9. O-O. Black is slightly better (−0.58). The next best moves are 4… Bg4 (+3.48) and 4… Qe7 (+3.99).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.58: 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: Cochrane Gambit?
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+).