Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Attack

Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack, Center Attack

Definition

Petrov’s Defense: Modern Attack, Center Attack is a branch of the Russian (Petrov) Defense that begins with the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3. The position arises after White foregoes the usual 3.Nxe5 in favor of the central pawn break 3.d4 (the Modern Attack) and then develops the bishop to d3, directly eyeing the enemy king and staking an even stronger claim to the center (the Center Attack). Its Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) code is C43.

Typical Move Order

A common sequence illustrating the main ideas is shown below.

Strategic Themes

• Central Tension: After 3.d4, both sides fight for the e4–d4–e5–d5 complex. White’s pawn duo can become powerful if Black is careless.
• Piece Activity vs. Material: Black temporarily wins a pawn on e4, but White gains time by attacking the knight and developing rapidly, especially with Bd3 and 0-0.
• King-side Pressure: The bishop on d3 and the queen (often via h5 or e2) coordinate threats against f7, reminiscent of lines in the King’s Gambit or Danish Gambit.
• Flexible Pawn Structure: White can support the center with c2-c3, wedge with c4, or even sacrifice d4 to open lines. Black usually aims for …d5 and solid development with …Be7, …O-O, and …Re8.

Historical Context

• The underlying idea of 3.d4 appeared in 19^th-century games, but it was championed as a serious weapon only in the late 20^th century, when players such as Bent Larsen and Boris Spassky experimented with it in search of sharper play against the solid Petrov.
• Computer engines initially evaluated the resulting positions as slightly favorable for Black, yet modern neural-network engines now consider many lines fully playable for White, reviving interest at every time control.

Representative Games

• Vladimir Kramnik – Peter Leko, Dortmund 2004
  Kramnik, a noted Petrov specialist with Black, tried the Center Attack as White and achieved a lasting initiative, illustrating how uncomfortable Black can feel when the line is used as a surprise weapon.
• Magnus Carlsen – Wesley So, Paris Rapid 2017
  Carlsen steered the game into an endgame where his active pieces outweighed the pawn deficit, eventually converting with exemplary technique.

Typical Plans for Both Sides

1. White
   
   • Castle quickly: O-O followed by Re1 to renew pressure on the e-file.
   • Target f7 and the e4-knight through tactics like Qh5 or c4 undermining d5.
   • Transition into a favorable endgame where the bishop pair and healthier pawn structure compensate for equal material.
2. Black
   
   • Return the extra pawn with …d5 at the right moment to free the position and complete development.
   • Exchange minor pieces (…Bd6, …O-O, …Re8) to reduce White’s attacking potential.
   • Avoid premature pawn grabs that leave the king in the center.

Assessment

Modern engine evaluations tend to hover around equality (≈0.00 to +0.30 for White), but practical results suggest that the surprise value and dynamic possibilities often give White an edge, especially in rapid or blitz play.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Because the move 3.d4 can transpose to a Scotch-like structure, some authors jokingly call it the “Scotch-Russian hybrid.”
• In online databases the Center Attack scores almost 55 % for White—better than the classical 3.Nxe5 lines—largely thanks to unprepared opponents.
• The line has been used as a “must-win” weapon: Alexander Grischuk rolled it out in the final round of the 2019 Moscow Grand Prix, needing a victory to stay in contention for Candidates qualification.

When to Choose This Variation

Opt for the Modern Attack, Center Attack if you want to:

• Deny the theoretical “drawing weapon” reputation of the Petrov.
• Force Black into lesser-known territory by move four.
• Create an imbalanced middlegame with attacking chances and clear strategic goals.