Chess opening · ECO C42
Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit
The Petrov's Defense: Stafford Gambit starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 Nc6. It ranks #169 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... e5Black pushes the e-pawn two squares to e5, staking a claim in the center.
- 2. Nf3White develops the kingside knight to f3.
- 2... Nf6Black develops the kingside knight to f6.
- 3. Nxe5White takes the pawn on e5 with the knight.
- 3... Nc6Black develops the queenside knight to c6. It now attacks the knight on e5.
At the end of the line White is a pawn up.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Nxc6 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Nxc6 100% | – | – |
| 1400–1599 | Nxc6 100% | – | – |
| 1600–1799 | Nxc6 100% | – | – |
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