The Petroff Defence: Essentials (White Repertoire)

By Theo van Stratum

The Petroff Defence (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) is one of Black's most reliable answers to 1.e4, trading down quickly and aiming for safe, well-tested equality rather than complications. Covers White's main approach after 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3, meeting Black's two principal eighth-move tries -- the classical ...Nb4 and the more modern ...Re8 -- an early ...Nb4 move-order variation, and Black's alternative 3...Qe7, which regains the pawn immediately with check.