Petroff's Defense : King's Knight's Openings - Part 4

Welcome to Part 4 of King's Knight's opening moves. Part 3 focused on Philidor's Defense, this lesson will explain the Petroff's Defense.

GAME THE FIFTH.

Petroff's Defence.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.	3. P. takes P.
4. P. to K's 5th.	4. Kt. to K's 5th. (best)
5. Kt. takes P.	5. P. to Q's 3d. (best).
6. P. takes P.	6. K. B. takes P.
7. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	7. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
8. Q. B. to K's 3d.	8. Castles.
9. Castles.	9. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
The game is equal.

Variation I.

Commencing at Black's 3d move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.	3. Kt. takes P.
4. K. B. to Q's 3d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K's P.	5. Kt. to Q's 3d.
6. P. to Q. B's 4th.	6. P. takes P.
7. K. Kt. takes P.	7. Q. B. to K's 3d.
8. Kt. to K's 3d.	8. B. to K's 2d.
9. Castles.	9. Castles.
You have the move, and somewhat the advantage of position.

Variation II.

Beginning at White's 5th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.	3. P. takes P.
4. P. to K's 5th.	4. Kt. to K's 5th.
5. K. B. to Q's 3d.	5. K. Kt. to Q. B's 4th
6. Kt. takes P.	6. P. to Q's 3d.
7. P. takes P.	7. K. B. takes P.
8. Castles.	8. Castles.

It would not be a good move for Black, instead of castling, to take your K. R. P. (ch.) and then to take the Kt., on account of your check with the B., which would leave his Q. exposed to capture.

Variation III.

Beginning at White's 3d move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. Kt. takes K's P.	3. Kt. takes P.
4. Q. to K's 2d.	4. Q. to K's 2d.
5. Q. takes Kt.	5. P. to Q's 3d.
6. P. to Q's 4th.	6. P. to K. B's 3d.
7. P. to K. B's 4th.	7. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
8. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	8. Q. P. takes Kt.
9. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th.	9. Q. to her 3d.
10. Q. P. takes P.	10. P. takes P.
11. P. takes P.	11. Q. to her B's 3d.
12. K. B. to Q. Kt's 5th.	12. Q. to her B's 4th.
13. P. to Q. Kt's 4th.

Winning the Q. At his 12th move, Black might prolong the game by playing 12. Q. to K. Kt's 3d, but in that case you would take 13. Q. B. P. with the Kt. (ch.), then take Q. with Q., and afterwards Q. R. with Kt.

Variation IV.

Beginning at Black's 3d move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. Kt. takes K. P.	3. P. to Q's 3d.
4. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	4. Kt. takes K's P.
5. P. to Q's 4th.	5. P. to Q's 4th.
6. K. B. to Q's 3d.	6. K. B. to K's 2d.
7. Castles.	7. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
8. P. to Q. B's 4th.	8. Q. B. to K's 3d.
9. P. to Q. R's 3d.	9. Castles.

You are now enabled to play Q. to her B's 2d, and obtain a good attacking situation.

ANOTHER VARIATION,

Beginning at the 3d move of White.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Kt. takes P.
4. Q. to K's 2d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. K. B. to Q. B. 4 (best)
6. P. to Q's 3d.	6. B. takes K. B. P. (ch.)
7. K. to Q's sq. (best)	7. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
8. Kt. takes K. B. P.	8. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
9. Kt. takes Q.	9. B. takes Q. (ch.)
10. K. takes B.	10. Kt. to K. B's 7th.
11. R. to K. B's sq.	11. P. takes B.
12. Kt. to K's 6th.	12. P. takes P. (ch.)
13. P. takes P.	13. K. to his 2d.
14. Kt. takes K. Kt. P.	14. R. to K. Kt's sq.
15. Kt. to K. B's 5th. (ch.)	15. K. to his 3d.
16. Q. B. to K's 3d.	16. B. takes B.
17. Kt. takes B.	17. Kt. to K. Kt's 5th.

The positions are equal, but you have a pawn more.


Variation (A.)

Beginning at Black's 6th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Kt. takes P.
4. Q. to K's 2d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. K. B. to Q. B's 4 (best)
6. P. to Q's 3d.	6. Q. P. takes B.
7. Q. takes Kt.	7. Castles.
8. Q. takes doubled P.	8. Q. to K's 2d.
9. P. to K. B's 4th.	9. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
10. Q. to K's 4th.	10. K. R. to K's sq.
11. K. to Q's sq.	11. Q. to K. R's 5th.
12. P. to K. Kt's 3d.	12. Q. to K. R's 4th. (ch.)
13. K. to Q's 2d.	13. Kt. takes Kt.
14. P. takes Kt.	14. R. takes P.
Winning easily.

Instead, however, of playing 12. P. to K. Kt's 3d, you might at that moment move Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.

12. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.	12. Q. to K. R's 4th. (ch.)
13. Q. Kt. to K. B's 3d. (best)	13. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.

and now, play as you can, Black must gain a decided advantage by taking the K. Kt. with Kt., &c.

VARIATION,

Beginning at White's 11th move.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Kt. takes P.
4. Q. to K's 2d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. K. B. to Q. B. 4th. (best)
6. P. to Q's 3d.	6. Q. P. takes B.
7. Q. takes Kt.	7. Castles.
8. Q. takes doubled P.	8. Q. to K's 2d.
9. P. to K. B's 4th.	9. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
10. Q. to K's 4th.	10. K. R. to K's sq.
11. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.	11. Q. to K. R's 5th. (ch.)
12. P. to K. Kt's 3d.	12. Q. to K. R's 4th.
13. Q. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	13. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.
14. Q. to K's 2d. (best)	14. Q. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
15. K. R. to B's sq.	15. Q. Kt. to Q's 5th.
And Black must win.

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GAMES

ILLUSTRATIVE OF PETROFF'S DEFENCE.

Game I.—Mr. Morphy plays without seeing the Chess-board or men, against M. Potier, at Paris.

Mr. Paul Morphy

WHITE.  (Mr. M.)	BLACK.  (M. P.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.
3. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	3. Kt. takes K. P.
4. Q. Kt. to Q. B's 3d.	4. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.[A]
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. P. to Q's 4th.
6. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.	6. K. B. to K's 2d.
7. P. to Q's 4th.	7. P. to Q. B's 3d.
8. Castles.	8. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
9. P. to K. B's 4th.	9. Q. Kt. to Q. Kt's 3d.
10. Q. to K. B's 3d.	10. P. to K. R's 4th.
11. P. to K. B's 5th.	11. Q. to Q. B's 2d.
12. Q. B. to K. B's 4th.	12. K. B. to Q's 3d.
13. Q. R. to K's sq.	13. K. to B's sq.
14. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.	14. P. to K. R's 5th.
15. K. Kt. to Kt's 6th. (ch.)[B]	15. K. to Kt's sq.
16. Q. B. takes B.	16. P. takes Q.
17. Q. B. takes Q.	17. P. takes Kt.
18. K. B. P. takes P.	18. P. takes K. R. P. (ch.)
19. K. to R's sq.	19. B. to K. Kt's 5th.
20. Q. R. to K's 7th.	20. Q. Kt. to Q's 2d.
21. Q. B. to K's 5th.	21. K. to B's sq.
22. Q. R. to K. B's 7th. (ch.)[C]	22. K. to Kt's sq.
23. Kt. takes Q. P.	23. P. takes Kt.
24. K. B. takes P.	24. Q. Kt. to Q. Kt's 3d.
25. K. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
And Black abandons the game.

[A] It is to be regretted that Mr. Potier did not take the Kt. rather than retreat, as many amateurs would have been pleased to see Mr. Morphy carrying out the attack of this interesting and comparatively novel début.

[B] Finely played.

[C] The termination of this partie is remarkably elegant and finished.

Game II.—Skilfully conducted Partie played in 1837, by M. Petroff,
against three Russian Amateurs in council together.

Mr. Alexander Dmitrievich Petroff

WHITE.  (M. Petroff.)	BLACK.  (Amateurs.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to K. B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. P. to Q's 4th.	3. Kt. takes K. P.
4. K. B. to Q's 3d.	4. P. to Q's 4th.
5. Kt. takes K. P.	5. K. B. to Q's 3d.
6. Castles.	6. Castles.
7. P. to Q. B's 4th.	7. P. to K. B's 4th.
8. P. to K. B's 4th.	8. P. to Q. B's 3d.
9. Q. B. to K's 3d.	9. Q. B. to K's 3d.
10. P. takes Q. P.	10. P. takes P.
11. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.	11. Q. Kt. to B's 3d.
12. Q. R. to Q. B's sq.	12. K. R. to B's 3d.[A]
13. B. takes Kt.	13. K. B. P. takes B.
14. Q. Kt. to his 5th.	14. Kt. to K's 2d.
15. Kt. takes B.	15. Q. takes Kt
16. P. to K. Kt's 4th.	16. P. to K. Kt's 3d.[B]
17. P. to K. B's 5th.[C]	17. P. takes P.
18. B. to K. Kt's 5th.	18. K. R. to B's sq.
19. B. to K. R's 6th.	19. K. R. to Q. B's sq.[D]
20. Q. to her 2d.	20. Q. to her square.
21. R. takes R.	21. R. takes R.
22. P. takes P.	22. Kt. takes P.
23. Q. to K. Kt's 2d. (ch.)	23. K. to R's sq.
24. R. takes Kt.	24. Q. to K. Kt's sq.
25. R. to B's 6th.	25. B. to K. R's 6th.
26. Q. to K. Kt's 3d.	26. Q. takes Q.
27. P. takes Q.
On this move, the Amateurs abandoned the game.

[A] This unfortunate counter attack is admirably taken advantage of by M. Petroff.

[B] They do not appear to have had a better move.

[C] Well played.

[D] It would have been better to leave the Rook en prise, and advance the Pawn to King's Bishop's 5th.

Game III.—Between M. Tchigorin and H. N. Pillsbury.

Mr. Harry Nelson Pillsbury

WHITE.  (Mr. T.)	BLACK.  (Mr. P.)
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
3. Kt. to B's 3d.	3. Kt. to B's 3d.
4. B. to Kt's 5th.	4. B. to Kt's 5th.
5. Castles.	5. Castles.
6. P. to Q's 3d.	6. P. to Q's 3d.
7. B. to Kt's 5th.[A]	7. B. takes Kt.
8. P. takes B.	8. Kt. to K's 2d.[B]
9. B. takes Kt.	9. P. takes B.
10. Q. to Q's 2d.	10. Kt. to Kt's 3d.
11. K. to R's sq.[C]	11. K. to R's sq.
12. P. to Q's 4th.	12. R. to K. Kt's sq.
13. B. to Q's 3d.	13. Q. to K's 2d.
14. Q. R. to Kt's sq.[D]	14. P. to Kt's 3d.
15. Kt. to Kt's sq.	15. B. to K's 3d.!
16. P. to Q's 5th.?	16. B. to Q's 2d.
17. P. to Kt's 3d.	17. R. to Kt's 2d.
18. Q. R. to K's sq.	18. Q. R. to K. Kt's sq.[E]
19. P. to B's 3d.[F]	19. P. to K. R's 4th.!
20. R. to K's 2d.	20. Kt. to B's sq.
21. P. to K. B's 4th.	21. P. takes P.
22. Q. takes P.	22. Kt. to R's 2d.
23. Kt. to B's 3d.	23. B. to Kt's 5th.
24. Kt. to Q's 4th.[G]	24. P. to R's 5th.!
25. R. to K's 3d.	25. Q. to K's 4th.
26. P. takes P.?	26. B. to B's 6th. (ch.)
27. Resigns.

[A] Notes by Jas. Mason.—In this familiar "double Lopez" predicament, 7. B. takes Kt. is highly recommended, if a dull but durable kind of game is desired.

[B] ... Something like a leap in the dark. If the doubled Pawn can be "dissolved" betimes, or the open file well used in attack, a safe landing may be confidently expected.

[C] More or less necessary, sooner or later. Black does not attempt to dissolve, just here; for then Q. to R's 6th, threatening Kt. to Kt's 5th, might be uncomfortable.

[D] Routine—indirectly including the questionable 16. P. to Q's 5th ? At once Kt. to Kt's sq., to be speedily followed by P. to Kt's 3d and P. to K. B's 4th, would have given the matter another and perhaps very different complexion.

[E] ... The difference is in favor of the young American representative, who presses it fully.

[F] Manifestly weakening. The Russian champion feels himself on the defensive, and at a loss how to continue. Thus the text move may be as good as any other.

[G] 24. Kt. to R's 4th would be much stronger, the importance of halting the advancing Rook Pawn duly considered. Going from bad to worse, the downright blunder two moves later caps the climax—and more need not be said.

GAME THE SIXTH.

WHITE.	BLACK.
1. P. to K's 4th.	1. P. to K's 4th.
2. K. Kt. to B's 3d.	2. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.
3. Kt. takes K. P.	3. Q. to K's 2d.
4. P. to Q's 4th.	4. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.
5. K. B. to Q. B's 4th.	5. K. Kt. to B's 3d.
6. B takes B. P. (ch.)	6. K. to B's sq.
7. B. to Q. Kt's 3d.	7. Kt. takes K's P
8. Castles,
And you have an excellent position.

The next lesson will focus on the Counter Gambit in the Knight's opening as I continue with my 11 part series of King's Knight's Openings on the Learn to Play Chess blog.