C42 · Open · a defense for Black
Petrov's Defense: Paulsen Attack
7/7
1.e4e52.Nf3Nf63.Nxe5d64.Nc4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Petrov's Defense: Paulsen Attack170k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
94%160k51%
1.5%2.6k44%
1.3%2.2k42%
1.2%2.0k43%
1.1%1.8k44%
0.4%67943%
0.3%57636%
0.2%32641%
0.1%8845%
0%5943%
Famous games in this line526 master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Gukesh, D. (2777) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2801)Nakamura, Hi (2777) – Aronian, L. (2767)Carlsen, Magnus (2733) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2799)Morozevich, Alexander (2741) – Topalov, Veselin (2757)Wei Yi (2753) – Yu Yangyi (2744)Wei Yi (2753) – Yu Yangyi (2744)Vidit, S. (2727) – Nepomniachtchi, I. (2758)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Erigaisi, Arjun · Topalov, Veselin · Yu Yangyi
- Family
- Petrov's Defense
- Category
- Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- C42
- Line
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nc4
SolidAggressiveClassical
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From the archives
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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