The Petroff Defense

Depending on how you play it, this just might be your best defense. This is also known as the Russian Defense. The main line goes like this: 1. e4, e5 2. Nf3, Nf6. 3. Nxp is all that this section will cover, but it is not technically part of the Petroff Defense. This is a favorite in kiddy chess. They like to copy your exact move. However, there are 3 major choices that are all good. They are all only if you accept the gambit. You can refute it, but you had better know what you are doing. Option 1: 3. Qe7. Option 2: 3. d6. Option 3: 3. Nxp.

Option 1

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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1

3. Qe7. This is not the greatest move. Many people suggest it, the suggested move is option 3 if played correctly. The reason this isn't great is that it blocks the bishop. Another is that after white castles, black is vulnerable to pins. White's best choice is 4. d4, d6 5. Nf3. This gains time and space. Option 1 is not the greatest for black. When black retakes the pawn with his knight, his knight, queen, and king are all in the same file ready to be pinned. If he takes with the queen, black is even more vulnerable because if white can pin it with the rook, there will be no minor pieces to put in front of it.

Option 2

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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3. d6. Many websites, books, and people say that this is the best defense, but only if black intends to fianchetto. Just like in the Philidor defense, Black has blocked in his bishop. Blocked bishops are bad; that is why they are called 'bad bishops.' Black has that same disadvantage. It is fine if you intend to fianchetto, but not any other time. The black knight is still exposed to pins, though. They can be parried, but not very well. The one thing we don't recommend for white is pinning it right away. It is too easy to parry.

Option 3

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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3. Nxp. If black is not careful, White goes up a queen by playing this simple line: 4. Qe2, Nf6 5. Nc6+!! So why do we recommend it? Well, watch and learn. People will think that you are an idiot by playing the copy-cat method, but you do it again. Black actually gambits a knight, but regains it immediately. White should go for black's queen by playing 4.Qe2. So what does black do? How about 4. Qe7? Well that's just silly. Black just gave me a knight. Not true. 5. QxN, d6. If white's knight moves, QxQ+.

Option 3 after black's move 5

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
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The reason we suggest this is for position. Both of the bishops will be open. The dark one is blocked, but won't be for long because black has a lot of active squares to put his queen and develop the bishop right away. The position you reach should look like the one on the left. This looks like the other options put together. One is bad, but both are good. The order is the most important thing to exchanges in chess. White can try to gain a pawn by supporting the knight, but all black has to do is develop while attacking and he gets easy compensation.