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The Petroff Defence - Fight for More Than Equality

The Petroff Defence has long been one of the most trusted weapons against 1.e4. Renowned for its solidity and strategic soundness, it has been a cornerstone of the repertoires of elite grandmasters including Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who relied on it successfully in the Candidates Tournament.

Sample Video: Introduction

Sample Video: 3.Nxe5 d6 - 4th Move Alternatives

But the Petroff is much more than a drawing weapon.

While its reputation is built on reliability, modern Petroff players know that the opening offers excellent opportunities to seize the initiative, outplay opponents in strategically rich positions, and fight for the full point. The key is understanding where the dynamic possibilities lie. In this course, you will learn a complete and practical Petroff repertoire built around modern, battle-tested ideas. Rather than memorizing endless engine lines, you will develop a deep understanding of the typical structures, plans, and strategic concepts that make the Petroff such a powerful opening.

What you'll learn:
• A complete repertoire against all major Anti-Petroff systems
• Modern solutions to the main lines after 3.Nxe5 d6
• How to neutralize White's attempts to create imbalances
• Dynamic alternatives and surprise weapons for practical play
• Strategic plans in symmetrical structures
• The latest developments in key Petroff positions
• Reliable setups used by today's elite grandmasters

Particular attention is given to modern approaches that keep Black's game active while maintaining the famous Petroff solidity. Whether White chooses quiet positional systems, early queen exchanges, or ambitious attacking setups, you will always know how to steer the game into positions you understand.

The result is a repertoire that combines maximum reliability with genuine winning chances — perfect for tournament players who want to meet 1.e4 with confidence, consistency, and modern theoretical backing. Solid when necessary. Dynamic when possible. A complete Petroff repertoire for the modern player.

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This is what is delivered:
  • Fritztrainer App for Windows and Mac
  • Available as download or on DVD
  • Video course with a running time of approx. 4-8 hrs.
  • Repertoire database: save and integrate Fritztrainer games into your own repertoire (in WebApp Opening or in ChessBase)
  • Interactive exercises with video feedback: the authors present exercises and key positions, the user has to enter the solution. With video feedback (also on mistakes) and further explanations.
  • Sample games as a ChessBase database.
  • New: many Fritztrainer now also available as stream in the ChessBase video portal!
That's what the FritzTrainer App can do for you:
  • Videos can run in the Fritztrainer app or in the ChessBase program with board graphics, notation and a large function bar
  • Analysis engine can be switched on at any time
  • Video pause for manual navigation and analysis in game notation
  • Input of your own variations, engine analysis, with storage in the game
  • Learn variations: view specific lines in the ChessBase WebApp Opening with autoplay, memorize variations and practise transformation (initial position - final position).
  • Active opening training: selected opening positions are transferred to the ChessBase WebApp Fritz-online. In a match against Fritz you test your new knowledge and actively play the new opening.
Even more possibilities: Start FritzTrainer in the ChessBase program!
  • The database with all games and analyses can be opened directly.
  • Games can be easily added to the opening reference.
  • Direct evaluation with game reference, games can be replayed on the analysis board
  • Your own variations are saved and can be added to the own repertoire
  • Replay training
  • LiveBook active
  • All engines installed in ChessBase can be started for the analysis
  • Assisted Analysis
  • Print notation and diagrams (for worksheets)

Sample video

Contents

  • Introduction & Secret Weapon
  • Introduction
  • 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5
  • Suprise Weapon 3... Nxe4
  • 4th Move & 5th Move Alternatives
  • 3.Nxe5 d6 - 4th Move Alternatives
  • 4.Nd3 Niemann - Nepomniachtchi
  • 4.Nf3 Nxe4 - 5th Move Alternatives
  • 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Carlsen vs Caruana
  • 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3
  • 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.d5 Be7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.h3
  • Illustrative Games
  • Mainline after 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3
  • 6...Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4
  • 6...Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 & 9.Nbd2
  • 6...Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 & 9.c4
  • Illustrative games
  • 3.d4
  • 3...Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5
  • 3...Nxe4 4.dxe5
  • Illustrative games
  • Other Lines & Conclusion
  • 3.Nc3
  • 3rd Move Alternatives
  • 2nd Move Alternatives & Conclusion
  • Practice Positions
  • Position 1
  • Position 2
  • Position 3
  • Position 4
  • Position 5
  • Position 6
  • Position 7
  • Position 8
  • Position 9
  • Position 10
  • Position 11
  • Position 12
  • Position 13
  • Position 14
  • 3.d4
  • 3.Nxe5 Nxe4
  • 3.Nxe5 d6 Main Line 8.c4/Re1
  • 3.Nxe5 d6 - 5.Nc3
  • 3.Nxe5 d6 - 5th move options
  • 3.Nxe4 4th move options
  • Four Knights
  • 2nd & 3rd move options
  • Find Key Moves
  • Description
  • Exercises in Books Format
  • Exercises in ChessBase Format
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Petroff Defence

After 2.Nf3 Black is in no way obliged to defend his e-pawn. Instead, he can play 2...Nf6 and start a counter-attack against White’s e-pawn. In the 19th century the Russian players Alexander Petroff (1794–1867) and Carl Friedrich Jänisch (1813–1872) made important contributions to the development of the variation, which has therefore become known as the Petroff Defence (or the Russian Defence).

In the second half of the 20th century after a long period of neglect, it developed in the 1980s into one of the most reliable ways for Black to achieve a draw at the top level. Worldclass players such as Karpov, Yusupov, Gelfand, Kramnik and Anand adopted it as part of their repertoire and the question as to how White could manage to reach an advantage against the Petroff became an even more ticklish one.

=> More products: Petroff Defence
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