Petrovs Defense: Steinitz Attack & Symmetrical Variation
Petrov’s Defense (Russian Game)
Definition
Petrov’s Defense is a double-king-pawn opening that arises after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6. Instead of protecting his own e-pawn, Black immediately counter-attacks White’s pawn on e4, leading to an early symmetry in the center. Because the opening was championed by the 19-century Russian master Alexander Petrov (1794-1867), it is also widely known as the Russian Game.
Typical Move Order and Main Branches
- 3. Nxe5 – the Classical Variation: White grabs the pawn, forcing 3…d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 and typically reaching the Symmetrical Variation (see below).
- 3. d4 – the Steinitz Attack (covered in the next section).
- 3. Nc3 – the Three Knights Game, allowing a transposition to a more familiar 1.e4 e5 territory.
Strategic Ideas
The Petrov is renowned for its solidity:
- Central Symmetry. Both sides often exchange their e-pawns early, resulting in an open but balanced center.
- Early Piece Activity. Black’s king knight is already on f6, a natural square that can support …d5 or …Nxe4 tactics.
- Queenless Middlegames. Many main lines feature early queen exchanges, steering play into technical endgames that reward precise calculation.
Historical Significance
The defense has been trusted by World Champions including Karpov, Kramnik, Anand, and Carlsen when they needed a rock-solid reply to 1.e4. It featured in the 2000 World Championship match (Kramnik–Kasparov) and in high-level computer chess—most notably in Kasparov vs Deep Blue, 1996, where the computer chose the Petrov in game 1.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Notice the near-mirrored pawn structure after move 5, underscoring the positional character of the opening.
Interesting Facts
- The Petrov is one of the few mainstream openings that can be reached via transposition from 1.Nf3 e5 2.e4 when Black plays …Nf6 on move 2.
- Because of its drawish reputation, it is sometimes nicknamed “the Berlin of the Open Games,” though modern engines show there is still plenty of latent complexity.
- Ironically, the Armenian World Champion Tigran Petrosian—whose name resembles “Petrov”—almost never played the Petrov’s Defense with Black.
Steinitz Attack (in the Petrov’s Defense)
Definition
The Steinitz Attack is a sharp alternative for White on move 3 of the Petrov, defined by 3.d4 rather than capturing on e5. The line is named after Wilhelm Steinitz, the first official World Champion, who popularized it in the late 1800s as part of his pioneering work on the importance of the center.
Move Order
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 (Steinitz Attack) Nxe4 (best; rejecting 3…exd4?! 4.e5) 4. Bd3 (putting immediate pressure on the knight) d5 5. Nxe5
Aims and Typical Plans
- Central Majority. By advancing d2-d4 early, White secures more central space and often establishes a pawn duo on e4 & d4.
- Tempo Play. The move 4.Bd3 chases the knight on e4 and sometimes enables a rapid Qh5+ to disturb Black’s coordination.
- Piece Activity over Material. White frequently sacrifices (or postpones recapturing) a pawn to keep the initiative.
Sample Continuation
Here the center is open, both kings are safe, and each side holds a minor structural concession—an ideal battleground for active play.
Historical and Modern Use
Although once a favorite of Steinitz, the variation disappeared from elite practice for much of the 20th century because of its perceived riskiness. It resurfaced in the 1990s with the engine-driven search for fresh opening ideas and has found occasional practical use by “ambush” players such as Alexander Grischuk and Baadur Jobava.
Trivia
- The line is one of the rare cases where both players can emerge with all their central pawns dissolved by move 10, leading to positions resembling an Exchange French but without the light-squared bishop trade.
- In blitz chess, 3.d4 is a popular surprise weapon because it avoids the heavily analyzed 3.Nxe5 labyrinth.
Symmetrical Variation (of the Classical Petrov)
Definition
The Symmetrical Variation refers to the position reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5. Both sides have mirrored pawn formations (pawns on d6/d5 and d4/d5 facing each other) and knights posted symmetrically on e4 and f3—a textbook example of structural symmetry.
Typical Continuation
6. Bd3 (challenging the e4-knight) Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O
Strategic Themes
- Slight First-Move Edge. Even in a perfectly mirrored structure, White’s extra tempo often lets him seize the initiative with c2-c4 or Re1.
- Piece Exchanges. Because the pawn skeleton is so balanced, minor-piece trades frequently steer the game toward equal endgames; strong players try to preserve tension to keep winning chances.
- Breaks with c4 or c5. The first side to break symmetry often does so with a pawn lever on the c-file, opening lines for rooks.
Memorable Game
Kramnik – Kasparov, World Championship 2000 (Game 2) featured the Symmetrical Variation. Kramnik’s calm 6.Bd3 and later novelty 14.Re1!? enabled him to neutralize Kasparov’s dynamic ambitions and steer the match toward the quiet positions in which he excelled.
Interesting Nuggets
- The ECO code often given for this branch is C42.4.
- Because of its peaceful reputation, the Symmetrical Variation is sometimes chosen by players with Black when a draw is an acceptable—even desirable—result, such as in the final round of a Swiss event.
- Modern engines evaluate the resulting positions at roughly +0.15 – +0.25 for White: small but persistent, and enough to test Black’s accuracy.