Petroff Defense Help

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liverpool007

Whenever I play white and face the Petroff I struggle and often lose, If ever I try to play it as black I will always lose. Anyone help with how I can improve and possible continuations?

ThrillerFan

There are two solutions to your delimma.

One of them is to possibly pick up one of the books that covers the Petroff, whether that be an objective book, like the book by Gambit from 10 years ago on the Petroff, or the one by Everyman from 8 years ago, or else a White repertoire book like Beating 1.e4 e5.

The second, and option you should seriously consider, is making sure you "Know Thyself".  You may "like" one set of openings, but it may not be where your strengths are.  You might find 1.c4 boring, but it might also be what leads to middlegames that make the most sense to how you think.  Part of chess maturity is knowing and executing your own strengths.  Maybe you should be playing 1.d4, or 1.c4, or 1.Nf3, instead of 1.e4, and avoiding the Petroff as Black.  I have a similar problem, but with the Najdorf Sicilian.  I specifically avoid it as both Black and White because it doesn't make sense.  Sure the Modern and Sniper are fun, and I play them sometimes, but my true strength against 1.d4 is to play 1...d5.  Not quite as exciting, but it wins for me, so I play it!

Once you learn your own strengths, whether you like them or not, accept that they are your strengths and play them.

For me, that's 1.d4 and 1.Nf3 as White, Tarrasch and Tartakower against 1.d4, Caro-Kann and occasional 1...e5 (Petroff or Berlin) against 1.e4 as Black.

antonisf

I dont think there is an easy solution, you just have to spent time to learn about the theory and the middle game positions that result from it, or avoid it with 2.Bc4.