Chess Openings Lab
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Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack

The Modern Attack is 3.d4, where White hits e5 with a pawn instead of capturing it with the knight. White wants open central lines and quick development, while Black chooses between taking on e4, taking on d4, or answering with ...d5.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4
ECO
C43
Engine
+0.30 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
4,501 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...Nxe4 play Nxe5 and Bd3, then trade on d7 and castle short with a slight lead in development.
  • Against 3...exd4 push e5, kick the knight to e4 and take back on d4 with the queen.
  • After 3...d5 4.exd5 exd4, use Bb5+ to disrupt Black's pawns before regaining d4.
  • Keep the c-pawn free so c4 can later hit Black's d5 pawn.

Black

  • Take with 3...Nxe4 and answer Nxe5 with ...d5, reaching a solid symmetrical center.
  • Challenge the e5 knight with ...Nd7 and trade it off to ease development.
  • 3...exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 is a lively option where Black breaks open the center.
  • Develop with ...Bd6 and ...O-O, keeping the e4 knight supported by the d5 pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

In the main 3...Nxe4 line, both sides end up with a pawn on d4 against d5 and an open e-file. White uses Bd3, O-O, Re1 and c4 to pressure Black's center and the e4 knight. Black uses ...Nd7 to trade knights, then ...Bd6, ...O-O and ...c5 or ...c6. In the 3...exd4 lines the position opens faster, and White's queen on d4 gives an early initiative that Black must meet with ...d5 and quick development.

Where the engine's main line heads: Symmetrical center: d4 against d5, open e-file. A symmetrical center: d4 against d5 with an open e-file. Neither side has pawn weaknesses, so piece activity decides.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.30: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.30 3...Nxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 5.Bd3 Nd7 6.Nxd7
  2. +0.50 3...exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6
  3. +0.54 3...d5 4.exd5 exd4 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

4,501 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.6%.

under 120057.3%
1200–159951.1%
1600–199953.9%
2000 and up53.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Modern Attack, Symmetrical Variation3...d5 · rare
  • Modern Attack, Trifunovic Variation3...Nxe4 · rare
  • Modern Attack, Bardeleben Variation3...exd4 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play 3...Nxe4 and meet Nxe5 with ...d5. Trade off White's strong knight on e5 with ...Nd7. Do not grab material with ...Qh4 or similar early queen raids. Castle before attacking the d4 pawn.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack?

The Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4. Its ECO code is C43.

Is the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.30 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 4,501 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.6%. A sound and active choice for White players who like open centers, while Black needs to know which capture suits their style.

What is the main idea of the Petrov's Defense: Modern Attack?

White strikes at e5 with a pawn. After 3...Nxe4 4.Nxe5 d5 5.Bd3 both sides get a symmetrical center, and White hopes a tempo and active bishops on d3 and f4 give a small initiative.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxe4, with exd4 and d5 close behind. 3...Nxe4 takes a central pawn and keeps material level after White recaptures on e5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.