Chessy
King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense
After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nf6, you are already in a sharp but very playable fight as Black. White has grabbed space, and your job is to answer quickly and accurately without drifting into passivity. The drill below lets you practise the exact position where White must choose a plan, and it shows why some natural moves are not the best way forward. Focus on staying active, meeting White's kingside ambitions, and choosing the reply that the engine likes most.
Play the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position asks of Black
This opening is about not letting White turn the gambit into a free attack. After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 Nf6, White to move, the main question is whether White can keep the initiative or whether Black can strike back cleanly. Your practical goal is simple: react with energy, keep your pieces active, and be ready for White's kingside ideas. If you hesitate, White gets the more comfortable game.
The engine's main reply
Stockfish rates this +0.34, a small edge for White. That means you are a little worse here, so your defence needs to be accurate. The engine's best move here is fxe5, continuing fxe5 Nxe4 Nf3 Ng5. In the drill, this is the move to understand first, because it shows the most direct way to meet White's gambit ambitions.
What the database says
The position has been reached in 1,126,139 games at this exact point, so this is a very well-tested battleground. White wins 53.9%, draws 2.8%, and Black wins 43.3%. In practical terms, White scores better overall, so this opening does not give you an automatic equal game; you need to know the critical replies and avoid drifting into passive positions.
The replies you will meet most often
The most-played continuations are Nc3, Nf3, fxe5, d3, Bc4, and f5. Among them, Nc3 is the most common with 370,234 games, followed by Nf3 with 351,743 games and fxe5 with 267,602 games. This means your training should not just cover the engine's top choice, but also the replies you are most likely to face in real games.
Moves to punish right away
Several common choices are already marked as not best. Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; Nf3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; Bc4 is a mistake and loses about 1.3 pawns. In each case, the better move was fxe5. That is useful for Black because it tells you which White ideas are less dangerous if you answer correctly.
Results across 1,126,139 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 370,234 | 56.8% |
| Nf3 | 351,743 | 53.3% |
| fxe5 | 267,602 | 52.3% |
| d3 | 89,996 | 53.6% |
| Bc4 | 19,780 | 50.3% |
| f5 | 13,376 | 40.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the position is not fully equal. Stockfish gives +0.34, a small edge for White, so you should expect a fight where accuracy matters. The practical challenge is to meet White's gambit ideas without falling behind in development.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine's best move here is fxe5, continuing fxe5 Nxe4 Nf3 Ng5. That is the line the drill is built around, so it is the first reply to know well. It gives you the clearest way to challenge White's early pawn push.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are Nc3, Nf3, fxe5, d3, Bc4, and f5. Nc3 and Nf3 are especially common, so you should be ready for them in the drill. White's most popular choices are also the ones that the database and engine highlight as not ideal.
Which White moves are the main mistakes to know?
Nc3 is an inaccuracy, Nf3 is an inaccuracy, and Bc4 is a mistake. In all three cases, the better move was fxe5. Knowing that helps you respond with confidence when White chooses a natural-looking but inferior move.
How many games feature the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the King's Gambit Declined: Petrov's Defense position. White wins 53.9%, Black wins 43.3%, with 2.8% draws — based on real rated games.