Chess Openings Lab
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Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit

The Stafford Gambit is 3.Nxe5 Nc6, where Black gives a pawn instead of kicking the knight with ...d6. Black hopes for quick development and attacks on f2 with ...Bc5 and ...Ng4, while White takes on c6 and develops carefully to keep the extra pawn.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6
ECO
C42
Engine
+1.59 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
6,294 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Take with 4.Nxc6 to remove the attacker and leave Black with doubled pawns after ...bxc6 or the other recapture.
  • Develop with Nc3 before pushing e5, then use Qe2 to pin the knight and support the e-pawn.
  • Guard f2 and avoid early Bg5 pins, which often run into ...Nxe4 and tactics against your king.
  • 4.d4 and 4.Nf3 are calm alternatives that keep a small edge without gambit tactics.

Black

  • After 4.Nxc6 recapture and develop fast: ...Bc5 against f2, ...O-O and a rook to the e-file.
  • Use ...Ng4 and ...Qh4 ideas to aim at f2 and h2 when White's kingside is undeveloped.
  • Look for ...Nxe4 tricks if White pins your knight; the e4 pawn is often loose.
  • Pin White's knight with ...Bb4 when it comes to c3, as the engine line shows.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4.Nxc6 Black has open lines and fast development for the pawn. Black plays ...Bc5, ...O-O, a rook on e8 and knight jumps toward g4 and e4, all aiming at f2. White's job is simple: Nc3, d3 or e5 at the right moment, Qe2 and Be2, then castle and trade pieces. Once White is castled and the f2 point is covered, the extra pawn and Black's broken structure decide. White scores under fifty percent in the sample, so the traps work in practice.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.59: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.59 4.Nxc6 bxc6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e5 Qe7
  2. +0.78 4.d4 Qe7 5.Nc3 Nxe5 6.dxe5 Qxe5
  3. +0.16 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

6,294 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.3%.

under 120047.3%
1200–159946.6%
1600–199949.9%
2000 and up52.7%

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

Traps and pitfalls

Stafford Gambit Bg5 trap (Black sets it)

In the Stafford Gambit, White pins the f6 knight with 6.Bg5. Black ignores the pin with 6...Nxe4, and if White takes the queen with 7.Bxd8, the two black bishops and a knight mate the king on e2.

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The Stafford Gambit Bg5 trap explained

Where it goes next

  • Stafford Gambit Accepted4.Nxc6 · rare

How to play against it

As White, take on c6 and play Nc3 before anything else. Do not pin with Bg5 or allow ...Bc5 and ...Ng4 to hit f2 while your king is still in the center. Use e5 and Qe2 when they gain time, castle short, and trade pieces to cash in the extra pawn.

Questions

What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit?

The Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nc6. Its ECO code is C42.

Is the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.59 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. In 6,294 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.3%. A dubious but dangerous gambit for Black in blitz, while a White player who knows the traps simply gets a better game.

What is the main idea of the Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit?

Black gives up the e5 pawn for open lines and quick attacks on f2. White takes on c6, develops with Nc3 and Qe2, and avoids the traps to keep the extra pawn.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxc6, with d4 and Nf3 close behind. 4.Nxc6 captures the attacking knight and gives Black doubled pawns before the gambit play starts.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.