1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

Shown from Black's side. ECO C42.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Petrov's Defense

Petrov's Defense, also called the Russian Game, starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. Instead of defending the e5 pawn, Black attacks White's e4 pawn. The positions are symmetrical and solid, and the opening is known as a reliable way to equalise. One early trap is worth knowing: after 3. Nxe5 Black should not take on e4 at once.

Games in our sample
47,755
White wins
50.3%
Draws
4.0%
Black wins
45.6%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Petrov's Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10007,2513.2%52.7%4.0%43.4%
1000 to 11997,0212.2%52.2%3.6%44.2%
1200 to 13998,6331.8%50.8%3.1%46.1%
1400 to 15999,4021.5%49.9%3.4%46.7%
1600 to 17997,8401.2%49.7%4.0%46.3%
1800 to 19994,7130.9%47.2%5.1%47.7%
2000 to 21992,0330.8%46.5%6.8%46.7%
2200 and over8620.8%46.6%12.6%40.7%
All ratings47,7551.5%50.3%4.0%45.6%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Petrov's Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Three Knights Game

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3

    12,847 games · White 49.7% · draws 4.0% · Black 46.3%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Italian Variation

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4

    10,498 games · White 50.8% · draws 3.4% · Black 45.8%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Stafford Gambit

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

    4,808 games · White 47.5% · draws 3.2% · Black 49.3%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Modern Attack

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4

    3,150 games · White 49.9% · draws 3.4% · Black 46.7%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Damiano Variation

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4

    2,716 games · White 63.0% · draws 3.5% · Black 33.5%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Cozio Attack

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2

    911 games · White 48.1% · draws 6.9% · Black 45.0%

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Ideas for White

  • 3. Nxe5 is the main line. After 3...d6 the knight retreats and Black takes on e4.

Ideas for Black

  • Play 3...d6 first and take on e4 next move. Taking at once, 3...Nxe4, runs into 4. Qe2.

Questions

What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense?
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. In the ECO classification it is filed under C42.
How does the Petrov's Defense score?
In 47,755 games with it in our sample, White won 50.3%, 4.0% were drawn and Black won 45.6%.
At which ratings is the Petrov's Defense played most?
Among players rated under 1000 it is 3.2% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 0.8%, is among players rated 2000 to 2199.
Which line of the Petrov's Defense is played most?
Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3), with 12,847 games in our sample.

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