Learning the Petroff's Defense Part 1

This game is an example of how someone might make irrational moves trying to hold onto everything when in reality the best bet is to cut your losses.  In the game I make a lot of inaccuracies that costed me at least the loss of a pawn, but trying to hold onto everything, I ended up losing even more.  As a chess player there comes a time, no matter how well you play, there is going to be a point in a game where you face a situation like this; where you have to reconize the fact that you are going to lose something; so giving up a little material is nessisary sometimes; cutting your losses; so that the game can go on at least.  It is still possible to win an endgame being down a pawn or two, or at least drawing it, however, being down more than that is where things get sticky and resignable like in this game.

One has to be ready to play various e4 openings when considering to play the Petroff's.  One transposition that is quite common is the Italian game or Piano openings and sometimes the two knights defense.  Of course if white doesn't even play Nf3 second move now you have a host of other openings to take into consideration.  If you want to play the Petroff's, you have to get good at all of these openings.  I'm not going to list them here, but there are quite a few.  

Another thing about playing the Petroff's Defense as black is learning to play it right.  In the game I am going to show you when first starting to play the Petroff's, I made an opening inaccuracy that costed me two minor pieces.  I of course blundered away the game, however, even if I didn't blunder I would have been down a pawn in the opening.  I guess that's a blunder to, being down a pawn...  But here is the game:

Perhaps had I of done moves to instead castle sooner maybe my opening would have worked, but still, I wouldn't try it again, but that is just me.  I may try it in blitz though!  Just to see what would happen.

Anyway more to come.  I am still learning the Petroff's.  I hope to one day become very good at it.  This blog will be about how I improve using the Petroff's and other transpositions that may come across from trying to open up with the Petroff's.