Petrov's Defense & Steinitz Attack
Petrov’s Defense (Russian Game)
Definition
Petrov’s Defense is a symmetrical king-pawn opening that begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. Instead of protecting Black’s own e-pawn, the reply …Nf6 counters White’s threat to e5 with a counter-attack on e4, aiming to seize the initiative by mirroring White’s play. It is catalogued in ECO codes C43–C44.
Strategic Themes
- Central symmetry: By copying White’s first two moves, Black seeks early equality and a solid pawn structure.
- Exchange on e4/e5: Common lines feature the double-capture 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4, leaving both e-pawns traded and the centre clarified.
- Piece activity over pawn structure: With no central pawn tension, both sides fight for rapid development (…Nc6, …Be7 or …g6, White’s Bf1–d3–e2 plans, etc.).
- Endgame-friendly: Because queens are often exchanged early and pawn structures stay healthy, the opening has a reputation for leading to drawish but precise endgames.
Typical Move-Orders
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 (Classical Main Line)
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 (Steinitz Attack—discussed below)
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 (Three Knights variation aiming for Four Knights transpositions)
Historical Significance
The defense is named after the 19th-century Russian master Alexander Petrov, who analyzed it extensively in his 1844 manual. Wilhelm Steinitz, Emanuel Lasker, and later World Champions such as Karpov, Kramnik, and Carlsen all adopted it as a drawing weapon
at the highest level.
Illustrative Game
World Championship match, Game 2: Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen, London 2018. Carlsen equalized comfortably with the Petrov and drew after 49 moves.
Interesting Facts
- The first official world-championship game ever played (Steinitz–Zukertort 1886, Game 1) began with a Petrov.
- The line was so solid in the 1990s that top grandmasters jokingly dubbed it
The Berlin Wall’s little brother
. - A modern twist is the Nepo-Petrov (…Nc6 & …d5 setups), popularised by Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Steinitz Attack (in the Petrov’s Defense)
Definition
The Steinitz Attack is an aggressive sideline against the Petrov that arises after
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4
Instead of the usual 3. Nxe5, White strikes at the centre with the d-pawn, aiming for rapid development, an open game, and early tactical chances. The variation is ECO code C43.
Main Branches
- 3…exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 (Open Gambit Line)
White sacrifices the advanced e-pawn temporarily, banking on lead in development after 5…d5 6.Bd3. - 3…Nxe4 4.Bd3 (Classical Line)
The bishop points at h7, and after 4…d5 5.Nxe5 White achieves a Scotch-like structure.
Strategic Features
- Initiative > material: In many lines White gambits a pawn or allows an isolated queen’s pawn for open files and piece play.
- Piece placement: Bc4, Qxd4, and Re1 often appear quickly, targeting the vulnerable e-file and Black’s king position.
- Flexible for Black: Experienced Petroff players can steer to calmer waters with accurate moves such as …d5, …Be7, and …Nc6, returning material when necessary.
Historical Note
Although named after Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official world champion, the line was co-developed by several contemporaries in the late 1800s who sought sharper play than the then-fashionable 3. Nxe5 main line.
Sample Mini-Game
One of the earliest crushing demonstrations:
Steinitz – von Bardeleben, Berlin 1883 (shortened).
Steinitz sacrificed two pawns to whip up an overwhelming attack; Black resigned on move 25 after facing unavoidable mate threats.
Modern Example
Teimour Radjabov – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Tal Memorial 2012, featured the Open Gambit line with an instructive draw where Black returned material for complete equality.
Things to Remember
- Because the line is rare at amateur level, Black players may be unprepared for its unique tactics.
- Engine evaluations hover around equality, but only with precise defence from Black; inaccuracies can lead to a swarming white initiative.
- The attack can transpose into Scotch- or Centre-Game-type positions, so studying those pawn structures is useful.