I've been interested in the Petroff Defense (1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) for a while now. While studying the games of Artur Jussupow, one of its leading exponents, my interest has admittedly waned. Many variations just don't seem to fight for an advantage (from the Black perspective). The lines that do require precise play, and games can still become very dull further in. That said, it's great for tournament games where the opponent must win as it is so prone to draw. This was evident in Jussupow's games (there are many draws with this opening relative to wins). The following game, however, presents an interesting material imbalance. Though 90 moves long, many of the moves are repetitions. Black refuses to draw eventually finds the winning moves. Here is Yuri Balashov vs. Artur Jussupow, 1982:
I've been interested in the Petroff Defense (1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6) for a while now. While studying the games of Artur Jussupow, one of its leading exponents, my interest has admittedly waned. Many variations just don't seem to fight for an advantage (from the Black perspective). The lines that do require precise play, and games can still become very dull further in. That said, it's great for tournament games where the opponent must win as it is so prone to draw. This was evident in Jussupow's games (there are many draws with this opening relative to wins). The following game, however, presents an interesting material imbalance. Though 90 moves long, many of the moves are repetitions. Black refuses to draw eventually finds the winning moves. Here is Yuri Balashov vs. Artur Jussupow, 1982: