The Petroff Defense at 800 to 2400: What White Really Plays and How to Answer It
TL;DR: the data
Built from 98 million Lichess games played by 800 to 2400 rated players You play Black, 22 practice lines, every move of yours checked by Stockfish Most common line 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Bxd5 Qxd5 7. Nc3 Qd6 Replies to 2...Nf6 3. Nc3 33% · 3. Nxe5 32% · 3. Bc4 18% Worth knowing After 3.Nxe5, only 26% of players at this level play the correct 3...d6, while 69% of 2200+ players do.
The Petroff starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. Instead of defending your e5 pawn, you bring out a knight and attack White's e4 pawn right back. If White takes on e5, you'll win e4 back, as long as you play one move in the right order.
The Petroff has a reputation as a quiet, safe opening, and that reputation comes from games between masters, where the main line starts with 3.Nxe5. This guide is built from 98 million Lichess games at 800 to 2400, and there it's a different opening. White's most common third move is 3.Nc3, which leads to a Four Knights position, and almost a fifth of players leave the e4 pawn hanging with 3.Bc4. Most of the practical chances in this guide are yours.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
Practice the Petroff Defense free →Who it's for
Players rated roughly 800 to 2400 who answer 1.e4 with 1...e5 and are tired of defending against the Italian, the Ruy Lopez and every gambit White can think of. After 2...Nf6 most of those are off the table, and you choose the kind of fight instead.
It suits patient players who like clear, sound positions but don't mind a few sharp tricks. You will need to learn a handful of lines by heart, especially the move order after 3.Nxe5, but each one is short.
Why it works at 800 to 2400
- You skip most of White's favorite 2...Nc6 systems. There's no Italian, no Ruy Lopez and no Scotch Gambit to prepare for.
- Many of White's natural moves are mistakes. 3.Bc4 drops a pawn, 6.Bxd5 in the fork trick gives you the bishop pair, and the knight sacrifice 4.Nxf7 leaves you a piece up for two pawns.
- When White plays well, the positions are level and easy to handle, with simple development and no weak pawns.
- You must know the 3.Nxe5 move order. Copying with 3...Nxe4 at once walks into 4.Qe2, and only 26% of players at this level find the correct 3...d6.
- Because 3.Nc3 is so common, you also need to play the Four Knights with ...Nc6. That's a second set of lines to learn.
- Against careful play some lines trade queens early. You'll need to win those games with patient endgame play rather than an attack.
What 800 to 2400 players actually play
Here is what White plays after 2...Nf6 at 800 to 2400. The top two moves are almost tied: 3.Nc3 at 33% and the classical 3.Nxe5 at 32%. Then comes 3.Bc4 at 18%, which looks natural but leaves e4 unprotected, so you just take it. The quiet 3.d3 (7%) and the direct 3.d4 (6%) make up most of the rest.
Three facts from the data that shape this guide:
- After 2...Nf6, White's most common replies at this level are 3.Nc3 (33%), 3.Nxe5 (32%) and 3.Bc4 (18%).
- After 3.Nxe5, only 26% of players at this level play the correct 3...d6, while 69% of 2200+ players do.
- In the fork trick line (3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5), 51% of White players take with 6.Bxd5, and Black then scores 59%.
How to play the Petroff Defense: move by move
Each board below comes from the practice lines and is shown from your side. The arrows are White's most common replies at 800 to 2400, labeled with how often each is played in that exact position. Under each board you'll see why White plays it and the answer the Coach teaches.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6
Your first choice is made. Now White has five common replies, and each one needs a different answer. Only one of them, 3.Nxe5, is the Petroff you'll find in most books.
- 3. Nc3 (33%). Nxe5. White protects e4 by developing a piece.
Your answer: 3...Nc6. Defend e5 and reach the Four Knights. - 3. Nxe5 (32%). Now you must not copy White right away.
Your answer: 3...d6. Kick the knight first, then take on e4. - 3. Bc4 (18%). Bc4? You can take it right away.
Your answer: 3...Nxe4. Take the free pawn. - 3. d3 (7%). It blocks White's f1 bishop.
Your answer: 3...Nc6. Protect e5 and develop. - 3. d4 (6%). White ignores e4 and hits e5.
Your answer: 3...Nxe4. Take the center pawn.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6
- 4. Bc4 (37%). It looks natural, but it lets you use a classic trick against White's e4 pawn.
Your answer: 4...Nxe4. The fork trick: give the knight back to win the center. - 4. d4 (22%). White challenges e5 right away.
Your answer: 4...exd4. Take the pawn. - 4. Bb5 (22%). The bishop attacks the knight that defends e5.
Your answer: 4...Nd4. Counterattack the bishop on b5 and the knight on f3. - 4. d3 (8%). d3 protects e4 but blocks the f1 bishop's route.
Your answer: 4...Bc5. Develop to the most active square.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nxe4
The fork trick. You've given your knight back for the e4 pawn, and after 5.Nxe4 your ...d5 forks the bishop and the knight.
- 5. Nxe4 (67%). You're a piece down for a moment, but you have the fork ready.
Your answer: 5...d5. A pawn fork of the bishop and the knight. - 5. Bxf7+ (22%). Bxf7+? looks scary, but after you take, White only wins back the knight. The material ends up level, and your pawns get to chase White's pieces.
Your answer: 5...Kxf7. Take the bishop.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Bxd5 Qxd5
- 7. Nc3 (53%). Nc3 saves the knight and hits your queen on d5, so you have to move it.
Your answer: 7...Qd6. Step back to a safe central square. - 7. d3 (37%). d3 keeps the knight on e4 and opens the c1 bishop, but it gives you time to develop with a threat.
Your answer: 7...Bg4. Develop and pin the f3 knight to White's queen.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4
- 5. Nxd4 (39%). White trades knights on d4.
Your answer: 5...exd4. Recapture, and your pawn now attacks the c3 knight. - 5. Nxe5 (21%). White grabs the e5 pawn.
Your answer: 5...Qe7. Attack the knight on e5, while b5 is still attacked too.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6
The key move order. You kicked the knight first, so now ...Nxe4 is safe. Most players at this level skip this step.
- 4. Nf3 (82%). White retreats the knight to f3.
Your answer: 4...Nxe4. Now take the pawn back. - 4. Nxf7 (8%). Nxf7? White gives a knight for two pawns and hopes your king gets into trouble.
Your answer: 4...Kxf7. Take the knight.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4
- 5. Qe2 (33%). Your knight on e4 is pinned: if it moves, White's queen would be attacking your king on e8.
Your answer: 5...Qe7. Defend the knight and block the e-file. - 5. d4 (24%). White grabs space and plans Bd3 to challenge your knight.
Your answer: 5...d5. Support your knight on e4 with a pawn. - 5. Nc3 (17%). White offers a knight trade with Nc3.
Your answer: 5...Nxc3. Trade knights. - 5. d3 (13%). White kicks your knight with d3.
Your answer: 5...Nf6. Retreat to the best square. - 5. Bc4 (7%). White develops the bishop to c4.
Your answer: 5...d5. Hit the bishop and support your knight.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6
- 7. Qxe7+ (43%). The game becomes calm right away.
Your answer: 7...Bxe7. Recapture with the bishop so you can still castle. - 7. Bg5 (31%). If the knight moves, Bxe7 wins your queen.
Your answer: 7...Qxe2+. Trade queens and end the pin.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4
You've taken the free pawn. White's pieces are loose now, and ...d5 is coming with a gain of time on the bishop.
- 4. Nxe5 (44%). Material is level again, but White's bishop and knight are both loose.
Your answer: 4...d5. Hit the bishop and protect your knight. - 4. O-O (13%). White castles and leaves the pawn for now.
Your answer: 4...d5. Hit the bishop and support your knight. - 4. Qe2 (13%). White attacks your knight with Qe2.
Your answer: 4...d5. Defend the knight and attack the bishop. - 4. d3 (13%). White kicks your knight with d3.
Your answer: 4...Nc5. A safe square for the knight.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Nxe5 d5
- 5. Bb3 (31%). Bb3?
Your answer: 5...Qg5. A double attack on the e5 knight and the g2 pawn. - 5. Qf3 (29%). The queen also attacks your knight on e4.
Your answer: 5...Be6. Stop the mate by guarding f7.
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4
- 4. dxe5 (42%). White's pawn on e5 gains space.
Your answer: 4...d5. Support your knight in the center. - 4. Nxe5 (26%). Now both sides have a knight on the fifth rank.
Your answer: 4...d5. Support your knight.
Your plan after the opening
Against 3.Nxe5: kick the knight, then take back
Play 3...d6 first, and only after 4.Nf3 take with 4...Nxe4. If White pins the knight with 5.Qe2, block with 5...Qe7, then retreat the knight to f6 after 6.d3. The queens usually come off, and you recapture with the bishop so you can still castle. From there it's ...O-O, ...Re8, ...c6 and ...d5.
If White plays 5.d4 instead, support your knight with 5...d5, then ...Bd6 and castle. After 8.c4, add 8...c6 so a pawn can always recapture on d5. White keeps a small edge here, about a third of a pawn by Stockfish, which is normal.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Qxe7+ Bxe7
Against 3.Nc3 and 4.Bc4: the fork trick
After 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4, take the pawn with 4...Nxe4. If White takes back with 5.Nxe4, then 5...d5 attacks the bishop and the knight at once and you win the piece back with a strong center. About half of White players then take with 6.Bxd5, which gives up their good bishop. After 6...Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qd6 Stockfish rates you about a pawn and a half better, with the two bishops and the stronger center.
If White checks with 5.Bxf7+ instead, take it: after 5...Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5 your pawns chase the knights around and Stockfish again rates you clearly better.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Nxe4 5. Nxe4 d5 6. Bxd5 Qxd5 7. Nc3 Qd6
Against 3.Nc3 and 4.Bb5: counterattack with 4...Nd4
Instead of defending your c6 knight, jump forward with 4...Nd4. It attacks the bishop on b5 and the knight on f3. After 5.Nxd4 exd4 your pawn hits the c3 knight and the game is level. If White grabs a pawn with 5.Nxe5, play 5...Qe7: both the e5 knight and the b5 bishop are attacked, and you win the pawn back.
Against 3.Nc3 and 4.d4: pin and trade
Take with 4...exd4 and after 5.Nxd4 pin the knight with 5...Bb4, which puts pressure on e4. After 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 you have a solid center, and after both sides castle the position is level. Watch for Bg5 pinning your f6 knight, and consider ...h6 to stop it.
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. O-O O-O
Traps and common mistakes
Copying White with 3...Nxe4?
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nxe4? 4. Qe2 Nf6?? 5. Nc6+
This is the trap that decides many Petroff games. After 3.Nxe5, taking back on e4 straight away looks fair, but 4.Qe2 attacks your knight and lines up on the e-file. If the knight retreats, 5.Nc6+ is a discovered check that also attacks your queen, and you lose it.
At this level only 26% of players find the correct 3...d6, while 69% of 2200+ players do. Make it a rule: kick the knight with 3...d6 first, then take on e4.
Forgetting the pin after 5.Qe2
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7
Even with the right move order, your knight on e4 is pinned after 5.Qe2: if it moves, White's queen attacks your king. If you ignore it, 6.d3 attacks the knight and it can't run. Block the e-file with 5...Qe7, which protects the knight and ends the pin.
Missing the mate threat after 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 5.Qf3
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Nxe5 d5 5. Qf3 Be6
You took the free pawn on e4, White took back on e5, and your ...d5 hit the bishop. Now 5.Qf3 (29% of games) threatens Qxf7, which is checkmate because the knight on e5 protects the queen. Guard f7 with 5...Be6. Your knight on e4 is protected by the d5 pawn, and Stockfish rates you slightly better.
Missing the double attack after 5.Bb3
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Nxe5 d5 5. Bb3 Qg5
In the same line, 5.Bb3 is White's most common move (31%) and it's a mistake. Nothing defends the knight on e5 or the pawn on g2, and 5...Qg5 attacks both. White usually saves the knight, you take on g2, and Stockfish rates you about a pawn and a half better.
Rushing your king after 4.Nxf7
8% of White players sacrifice the knight on move four with 4.Nxf7. Take it with 4...Kxf7: you're a piece up for two pawns and Stockfish rates you about a pawn better. The danger is your king. Don't go hunting for more material. Develop with ...Be7 or ...Be6 and walk the king to g8 before you do anything else.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Petroff Defense drawish at club level?
Not in practice. Its drawish reputation comes from master games in the 3.Nxe5 main line. At 800 to 2400 on Lichess White's most common reply is 3.Nc3, and moves like 3.Bc4, or 6.Bxd5 in the fork trick, hand you an edge right away.
What is the most common reply to the Petroff Defense?
At 800 to 2400 it's 3.Nc3 (33%), just ahead of 3.Nxe5 (32%). Next is 3.Bc4 at 18%, which leaves the e4 pawn hanging.
What is the biggest trap in the Petroff Defense?
Copying White with 3...Nxe4 after 3.Nxe5. White plays 4.Qe2, and if your knight retreats, 5.Nc6+ uncovers check and wins your queen. Play 3...d6 first and take on e4 after the knight retreats.
What should Black do against 3.Nc3 in the Petroff?
Defend e5 with 3...Nc6, which leads to the Four Knights. Then use the fork trick 4...Nxe4 against 4.Bc4, jump to d4 against 4.Bb5, and pin with ...Bb4 after 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4.
Is the Petroff Defense good for beginners?
It's a good choice once you're comfortable with basic tactics, which is why this guide starts at 800. The lines are short and the plans are simple, but you must remember the 3...d6 move order and the fork trick.
Keep learning
- All 36 opening guides: every opening on the site, grouped by what you play as White and Black.
- Is the Petroff Defense Really Drawish?: What the move data says about its quiet reputation.
- What Is the Stafford Gambit, and How Does White Refute It?: Why this guide answers 3.Nxe5 with 3...d6 instead of 3...Nc6.
- What Is the Best Defense Against 1.e4?: How the Petroff compares with six other defenses.
The Coach plays White against your Petroff with the moves 800 to 2400 players actually choose, including 3.Nc3 and 3.Bc4, and explains every move in plain English. Progress tracking is free during the open beta.
Practice the Petroff Defense free →