ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6

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

4. Nxc6+1.34

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxc6 for White. White is clearly better (+1.34).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.344. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Be2 Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4 8. g3 Qxg4
  2. +0.694. d4 Qe7 5. Nc3 Nxe5 6. dxe5 Qxe5 7. f4 Qe6 8. Bd3 d5
  3. +0.164. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. Nc3 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Be7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxc6 for White, continuing dxc6 5. d3 Bc5 6. Be2 Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4 8. g3 Qxg4. White is clearly better (+1.34). The next best moves are 4. d4 (+0.69) and 4. Nf3 (+0.16).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.34: white is clearly 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: Stafford 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+).