ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4

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

5… c5−0.62

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… c5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.62).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.625… c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Bc4+ d5 8. Nxd5 Be6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. O-O
  2. −0.445… c6 6. Bd3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. h4 Qe7 9. h5 Nxh5 10. g4
  3. −0.365… Bg4 6. f3 Be6 7. Nc3 Kg8 8. g4 Bf7 9. h4 c5 10. d5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… c5 for Black, continuing 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Bc4+ d5 8. Nxd5 Be6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. O-O. Black is slightly better (−0.62). The next best moves are 5… c6 (−0.44) and 5… Bg4 (−0.36).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.62: 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, Center 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+).