Petroff

Question 1

What do we play against the Petroff?

Answer 1

We take on e5, the most aggressive continuation.

Question 2

What do we play after 3…Nxe4 (Damiano variation)?

Answer 2

We play Qe2, threatening the black knight and setting up a discovered attack on the king so that we win the queen if Black moves his knight and we play Nc6+. After the normal …d5, d3 Qe7, dxe4 Qxe5, exd5, we are a healthy pawn up.

Question 3

What do we play after 3…d6 (Cochrane Gambit)?

Answer 3

We sacrifice the knight, Nxf7! We follow up with d4, Nc3, Bc4, O-O, f4. If Black is greedy and plays …Nxe4, we play Qh5 winning back the knight or checkmating.

Question 4

What do we play after 3…Nc6 (Stafford Gambit)?

Answer 4

We accept the gambit with Nxc6 and play d3 to protect the e4 pawn. Then we follow the 4 golden Stafford rules:
1. No short castle, no checkmate.
2. Defend the Queen by playing Be2.
3. Play h3 to prevent Ng4 or Bg4.
4. Kill the bishop on c5 by playing c3, d4.