Petrov's Defence Repertoire

What is inside

This ChessGuin PGN material provides a practical Petrov’s Defence repertoire for Black against 1.e4.

The Petrov’s Defence is usually known as one of the most solid replies to 1.e4. Many players associate it with safe, symmetrical positions and a reliable way for Black to avoid overly sharp opening battles. However, this repertoire shows that the Petrov can also be an active and ambitious weapon.

Black gets stable positions with clear development, healthy pawn structures, and practical winning chances. In many lines, the repertoire focuses on active piece play, dynamic central breaks, and ways to create problems for White even in more symmetrical positions.

This material is recommended for players who want a solid but not boring repertoire against 1.e4. It is especially useful for players who like stable structures, simple development, and strategic pressure, while still having the option to enter sharper attacking setups when White allows it.

Against overly quiet or solid play from White, Black can often equalize comfortably, take over the initiative, or reach pleasant endgames. The PGN covers the main Petrov lines, Four Knights move orders, sharp 3.Nxe5 systems, and important sidelines.

The PGN is organized into structured chapters so you can study the repertoire step by step and understand the ideas behind the moves.

Included chapters:

1. Chapter: 3.Bc4; 3.d3 and 3.Qe2
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6
3.Qe2 Nc6
3.d3 Nc6 4.Nbd2 d5
3.Bc4 Nxe4

2. Chapter: Four Knights sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6
4.Bc4 Nxe4
4.d3 d5
4.a3 d5
4.Be2 d5
4.h3!? d5
4.Nxe5?! Nxe5 5.d4 Ng6
4.g3 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Bc5

3. Chapter: Four Knights with 4.d4
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nxe4!?

4. Chapter: Four Knights with 4.Bb5
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4

5. Chapter: 3.d4 Nxe4 4.dxe5 and 4.Nxe5
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4
4.Nxe5 d5 5.Nd2!? Bd6
4.dxe5 Bc5 (or the solid 4...d5)

6. Chapter: 3.d4; 6.0-0 and sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7
6.Qe2 Nxe5 7.Bxe4 dxe4 8.Qxe4 Be6
6.Nc3 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bc5
6.Nxf7 Kxf7 (or 6...Qh4!?)
6.Nf3 Bd6
6.Bf4 Qf6
6.Nd2 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nc5
6.c4?! Bb4
6.0-0 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nc5

7. Chapter: 3.d4 Main line
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7
7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bd6
7.Qe2 Qh4
7.Qf3 Bb4 8.c3 Bd6
7.Nd2 f5!?
7.Qh5 Nf6
7.0-0 Bd6 (or 7...Qh4!?) 8.c4 0-0!

8. Chapter: Alternative: 4...Nc6!?
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 Nc6!?

9. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 4.Nxf7 and sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6
4.Nc4 Nxe4
4.Nd3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7
4.Nxf7 Kxf7 5.d4 c5

10. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 5.c4 and sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4
5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 Be7 7.h3 0-0 8.c3 c5 (or 8...b6)
5.Bc4 d5
5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Bg5 Nbd7
5.c4 Nc6

11. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 5.d3
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d3 Nf6 6.d4 d5 (or 6...g6) 7.Bd3 c5!?

12. Chapter: 5.Nc3; 7.Bf4
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc5

13. Chapter: 5.Nc3; 7.Be3
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nf6

14. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 8.Re1 and sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6
7.c3 Bg4
7.c4?! Bb4
7.h3 Nb4!?
7.Nd2 Nxd2 8.Bxd2 Bd6
7.Qe2 Qe7
7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bd6
7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 Bg4

15. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 8.c4 sidelines
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4
9.Re1 Nxd3 10.Qxd3 c6
9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Nxd3 11.Qxd3 dxc4 12.Qxc4 0-0
9.Bxe4 dxe4
9.cxd5 Nxd3 10.Qxd3 Qxd5

16. Chapter: 3.Nxe5; 8.c4; 9.Be2
1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5