ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6

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

5. d3+1.57

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. d3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.575. d3 Bc5 6. Be2 Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4 8. g3 Qxg4 9. Qxg4 Bxg4
  2. +1.445. Nc3 Bc5 6. h3 O-O 7. d3 b5 8. Be2 Qd6 9. Nb1 a5
  3. +1.185. Qe2 Bc5 6. h3 O-O 7. d3 Re8 8. Qf3 Nd5 9. Be2 Nb4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bc5
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. d3 for White, continuing Bc5 6. Be2 Ng4 7. Bxg4 Qh4 8. g3 Qxg4 9. Qxg4 Bxg4. White is clearly better (+1.57). The next best moves are 5. Nc3 (+1.44) and 5. Qe2 (+1.18).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit Accepted a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.57: 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 Accepted?
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+).