ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4

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

3… Nxe4−0.48

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nxe4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.483… Nxe4 4. d3 Nc5 5. Nxe5 d5 6. Bb3 Nxb3 7. axb3 Bb4+ 8. c3
  2. +0.243… Nc6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2
  3. +0.293… d5 4. exd5 e4 5. Ne5 Bd6 6. d4 Nbd7 7. f4 exf3 8. Nxf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nxe4 for Black, continuing 4. d3 Nc5 5. Nxe5 d5 6. Bb3 Nxb3 7. axb3 Bb4+ 8. c3. Black is slightly better (−0.48). The next best moves are 3… Nc6 (+0.24) and 3… d5 (+0.29).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Italian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.48: 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: Italian 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+).