ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Qe7

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

5. Qxe4+0.62

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Qe7, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Qxe4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.62).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.625. Qxe4 d6 6. d4 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nc3 Qb4
  2. +0.155. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Bg5 Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 Be7
  3. +0.115. d4 d5 6. h4 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nd2 Bg4 9. Qe3 Bf5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4 4. Qe2 Qe7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Qxe4 for White, continuing d6 6. d4 dxe5 7. dxe5 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nc3 Qb4. White is slightly better (+0.62). The next best moves are 5. d3 (+0.15) and 5. d4 (+0.11).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.62: 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, Kholmov 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+).