Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack
After the central pawn captures, White challenges Black's knight with a d-pawn advance. Both sides should support their central pieces and finish development before looking for an attack.
Your plan as White
Answer the attack on e4 while considering Nxe5 and central development.
The opponent’s plan
Use ...Nf6 to counterattack e4. In capture lines, check the move order before taking back on e4.
Watch out: Automatic pawn grabbing can overlook a queen pin on the e-file.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
Alexander Petrov gave the defense its familiar name, but it was known before his nineteenth-century career. Naming an opening does not imply a single inventor.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.