ECO C42 · Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3

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

3… Nc6+0.13

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game (C42), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Nc6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.13).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.133… Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. dxc3
  2. +0.333… Bb4 4. Nxe5 O-O 5. Be2 Re8 6. Nd3 Bxc3 7. dxc3 Nxe4 8. O-O
  3. +0.453… d6 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. a4 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Nc6 for Black, continuing 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 8. dxc3. The position is roughly equal (+0.13). The next best moves are 3… Bb4 (+0.33) and 3… d6 (+0.45).
Is the Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.13: the position is roughly equal. 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: Three Knights Game?
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+).