Petroff Defence
C42–C43Black1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
C42–C43 · 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
The idea
Instead of defending the e5-pawn, Black immediately counterattacks White's e4-pawn with 2...Nf6 — meeting a threat with a threat. The result is famously solid and symmetrical, a favourite of players who want a reliable, low-risk answer to 1.e4. It trades early fireworks for clarity and balance.
Your plan (Black)
Recover the pawn by counterattacking e4, develop quickly and harmoniously, and reach a sound, symmetrical middlegame where there are no weaknesses to target.
Heading into the middlegame
The Petroff is about harmony and zero weaknesses. After you regain the pawn with ...Nxe4, don't cling to that knight — be ready to retreat it (...Nf6/...Nd6) the moment it's challenged. Develop everything to natural squares (...Be7 or ...Bd6, ...O-O, ...Nc6, an active ...Bf5 or ...Bg4), contest the open e-file with a rook, and steer toward a sound, symmetrical position where White's first-move edge simply fizzles. Accuracy and patience, not counterattack, win Petroff games.
Lines
0/2 masteredYou kick the e5-knight before recapturing on e4, then develop harmoniously into a sound, symmetrical position with no weaknesses to target.
When White strikes with d4 instead of grabbing e5, you hit back with ...d5 and ...exd6 to reach a lively, roughly balanced middlegame.