ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4

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

4. Qe2+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.704. Qe2 Qe7 5. Qxe4 d6 6. d4 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7
  2. +0.334. d4 d5 5. Bd3 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. c4 O-O
  3. +0.254. d3 Nf6 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 c5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Qe2 for White, continuing Qe7 5. Qxe4 d6 6. d4 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+0.33) and 4. d3 (+0.25).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.70: 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: Damiano 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+).