ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Moody Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4

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

4… Nxd4−0.38

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Moody Gambit (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… Nxd4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.384… Nxd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 Nd5 7. Qe4 c6 8. Bc4 Bc5 9. Bxd5
  2. −0.294… exd4 5. e5 Nd5 6. Qe4 Nde7 7. Nxd4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9. Qe3
  3. −0.244… d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. dxe5 Bf5 7. a3 Qd7 8. g3 O-O-O 9. Bg2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Moody Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. d4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… Nxd4 for Black, continuing 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 Nd5 7. Qe4 c6 8. Bc4 Bc5 9. Bxd5. Black is slightly better (−0.38). The next best moves are 4… exd4 (−0.29) and 4… d5 (−0.24).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Moody Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.38: 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: Moody 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+).