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Fight the Petroff Defense
Course
108 episodes
(4 hours 53 min)
(4 hours 53 min)
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
The Petroff Defense, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6, is an annoying opening to face with White.
With players like Fabiano Caruana using it against other top GMs, it’s no surprise that this line has become more popular in recent years.
At the same time some players just want to bore you and make a quick draw using this line.
But don't worry! In this course you’ll see how to play against the Petroff Defense steering clear of any drawish lines...
See moreBelow are some of the positions from this opening taken from the course:
If you’re a 2200+ player you’ll find many ideas with deeper analysis in the Advanced section to enhance your understanding of this line.
Once you finish the course you can expect to get a fighting position even against a boring opening like the Petroff Defense.
Let’s get started!
Additional Resources: Many Petroff players might play for the dubious but trendy Stafford Gambit. We have a 47-minute course and an article showing how to refute this gambit!
What you'll learn
- A complete opening repertoire for White to fight the Petroff Defense - 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6.
- How to create an imbalance in the position and fight for the opening advantage with the 5.Nc3 line.
- How to play in opposite-side castling positions.
- A subtle and dangerous opening trap, one of whose victims was a former World Champion.
- The game plan you should follow in the middlegame so that you know exactly what to do after the opening.
- Model games to help you digest important ideas in this opening and more.
Course Content
-
108
Episodes -
1
Attachments -
4 hours 53 min
4.9
Students give this course an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Adhyayan Banerjee
Its really a great course thank you GM avetik
vatsal singla
excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Yesss!!! :)
Master Master
Absolutely amazing!
ChessMood
Thanks!
Kian Guan Lim
A complete attacking repertoire
ChessMood
Yep! :)
Thanks!
Mate Vučić
Wunderbar
Reyan Md
It's a nice repotire
ChessMood
Thanks!
Artyom Manukyan
WIM_Siranush Ghukasyan
Giorgos Kechagias
Just awesome!
ChessMood
Thank you! :)
Devansh Shah
Kevin Sun
Gor Avetisyan
Mark Wilkin
Loved it! I can't wait for the new advanced section....Great material..thank you!!!
ChessMood
Thanks, Mark!
Ihor Nester
Very nice material. but where is pgn file for Petroff defense?
Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan
Ratheesh PK
Sergo Gasparov
Mikhail Salnikov
Very intresting stuff, так держать! :)
GM Avetik Grigoryan
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
The Petroff Defense arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. Instead of defending their e5-pawn Black counterattacks.
Over the years the opening has made a name for being a solid Defense which is tough for White to crack. It was also featured in the 2018 World Championship Match when Fabiano Caruana used it against Magnus Carlsen.
So as White you must be prepared to counter this line as there’s a high chance you’ll face it. But before that let us walk you through its history.
History of the Petroff Defense
The first game in this opening was played between Gioacchino Greco and an anonymous player in 1620. Greco, playing with the White pieces, went on to win the game.
Later, it was popularized by Alexander Petrov after whom the opening is named – Petrov Defense or Petroff Defense.
In some cases, it’s also known as Russian Defense or the Russian Game to honor the investigation made by two Russian players, Alexander Petrov and Carl Janeisch.
How should we play against the Petroff Defense?
The most dangerous challenge for Black occurs after the following mainline – 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3!
This line has been played by the world’s top players including the likes of Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin, Levon Aronian, Vishwanathan Anand and Fabiano Caruana, the expert himself!
The point is that after 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3, White is ready to finish their development with Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0.
Depending on what Black would play, White can either choose a plan based on central play or launch a kingside attack with h4, Bd3, Ng5 etc.
The Dubious Stafford Gambit
Apart from the mainline, Black can also play the Stafford Gambit after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6. However, White can easily refute it without memorizing a lot of big lines. We've covered the Stafford Gambit in our video course of the same name.
Is the Petroff Defense Sound?
The Petroff Defense was featured in a World Championship Match so it is safe to say that the opening is sound. But on the other hand, it often leads to drawish positions.
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Course
108
Episodes
1
Attachments
4 hours 53 min
108
1
4 hours 53 min
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
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