Petrov's Defence, also called the Russian Game (ECO C42), arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6. Rather than defend the pawn on e5, Black counter-attacks e4 at once - the result is a symmetrical and very solid position.
The opening is famous for its reliability: it is considered one of the soundest answers to 1.e4 and often leads to quiet, level play. That is why it is often chosen when a draw against a strong opponent would do.
Kasparov, Kramnik and Carlsen all used Petrov's as an «opening without weaknesses». Behind the apparent simplicity lie fine points, where the trick is to break the symmetry in your own favour.
Set it up on the board, move the pieces around and copy the FEN - or open the full walkthrough of the opening in a separate article.
Drag a piece onto the board, or click a piece and then click the squares. The cross beside the pieces sweeps every piece of that colour off the board, and a single piece can be dragged off the edge.
The pieces will be arranged into the chosen pattern.
It is the mating side to move. Find mate in one.
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