Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nf6

= Russian game =

2...Nf6
The Russian game (or Petrov's Defence) is a solid response to White's 2. Nf3. While this opening is often drawish and boring, it is still popular, and quite often played in chess tournaments. White has a couple of good responses here:


 * /3. Nxe5/ is the main line (or Classical Variation). If ...Nc6 is played afterwards, it will most likely be the Stafford Gambit. In this line, it's not advised for Black to take White's pawn before having chased the knight. There is a famous trap : 3...Nxe4? 4. Qe2 Nd6?? (or 4...Nf6??) 5. Nc6+ and Black's queen is lost. There are a few lines that are quite dangerous in the Classical Variation, especially the Cochrane Gambit, which goes 3...d6 4. Nxf7, sacrificing a knight for two pawns and an exposed king. Rarely do games in the Cochrane Gambit end in a draw, especially due to the attacking opportunities and aggression offered by the position as White tries to gain a pawn back (3 pawns for a knight is material equality), while Black tries to maintain its advantage of a pawn.
 * /3. Nc3/ is the Three Knights Game. Black can easily transpose into the Four Knights Game with 3...Nc6. This option is sound when White wants to avoid the sharp lines of Petrov's Defence. However, Black can avoid the Four Knights transposition with 3...Bb4, also pressuring the knight on c3 and making the game a little more active than it would be with the slow maneuvering of the Four Knights Game.
 * /3. Bc4/ leaves White's e4 pawn undefended but develops another piece aiming at the f7 square. This usually transposes into the Two Knights Defence (a variation of the Italian Game) with 3...Nc6 but can continue in its own line (such as the Boden–Kieseritzky Gambit).
 * /3. d4/ is the Steinitz Variation. Both players will usually plant their knights in advanced positions. Exchanges often occur in this line to avoid having too powerful an enemy knight in front of the king. This is a rather sharp variation of the Petrov's Defence.
 * /3. d3/ is, according to statistics, a much more effective move than it looks, though it's rarely played. White builds a strong fortress and Black is now forced to abandon the Petrov's lines and to defend his pawn.

Theory table
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'''1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6'''