ECO C43 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6

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

5. Nxe5+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation (C43), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nxe5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.395. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. dxe5 Nc5 7. Bc4 c6 8. O-O b5 9. b4 Ne6
  2. +0.375. dxe5 Nc5 6. Nc3 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3 d6 8. Bf4 dxe5 9. Nxe5 f6
  3. +0.345. O-O d5 6. dxe5 Bg4 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Re1 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nxe5 for White, continuing Nxe5 6. dxe5 Nc5 7. Bc4 c6 8. O-O b5 9. b4 Ne6. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 5. dxe5 (+0.37) and 5. O-O (+0.34).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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: Modern Attack, Murrey Variation?
C43. 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+).