C42 · Open · a defense for Black

Petrov's Defense: Kaufmann Attack

9/9
1.e4e52.Nf3Nf63.Nxe5d64.Nf3Nxe45.c4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Petrov's Defense: Kaufmann Attack28k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%13k45%
12%3.2k45%
11%3.1k45%
9.3%2.6k41%
5.7%1.6k45%
4.2%1.2k41%
3%83633%
2.9%81242%
2%56443%
2%54547%
Famous games in this line716 master games
Karjakin, Sergey (2782)Caruana, F. (2816)20180–1Firouzja, Alireza (2793)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2766)20220–1Movsesian, Sergei (2751)Wang, Yue (2739)2009½–½Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2727)Giri, A. (2749)20241–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2719)Wang Hao (2734)20161–0Nakamura, Hi (2780)Cheparinov, I. (2658)20231–0Movsesian, Sergei (2747)Volokitin, Andrei (2671)20090–1Leko, Peter (2736)Morozevich, Alexander (2678)2003½–½
Heroes of this opening Nepomniachtchi, I. · Caruana, F. · Abdusattorov, Nodirbek · Nakamura, Hi
Category
Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
C42
Line
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. c4
SolidAggressiveClassical
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Named for the 19th-century Russian master Alexander Petrov, the Petrov spent a century labeled 'drawish' — then Fabiano Caruana brought it to the 2018 World Championship, where it answered both of Magnus Carlsen's 1.e4 games and drew both. All twelve classical games were drawn and the title went to a rapid tiebreak. Symmetry, it turns out, is a weapon too.

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