Repertoire Help: Response to 1.e4

  I don't like 3d4...Interesting, but risky, is Topalov's 3Nxe5 d6 4Nxf7!?

There is no risk in 3.d4- at all. It may even be a safe way to draw after 3...Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxf7.

3.d4 was the Petroff mainline some 25-30 years ago, but times have changed.

That Cochrane gambit wasn't Vitolins' pet line?

Yes.

Looks like a good reason to avoid Petroff as black, at least for me.

  I didn't say 3d4 is risky, of course it's one of the main lines. I've just never been attracted to it, that's all. As for using it as an attempt to draw, I think White has always an obligation to try play for a win, and even try avoid certain drawing linbes available for Black, speaking in general now.

  With Black, 'getting a pleasant game' may be acceptable, but with White, for me, that would be a nightmare. I'm not very fond of 'pleasant'.

It's a normal move, White plays for a win.

  Yes, with 3d4 White plays for a win, but not with the line quoted( the Alternative Gambit offered), given 'as a safer way to draw'.

    I was referring to Legi's line and comment.

The point I was trying to make is that by playing the Petroff  Black is satisfied with a draw.

  Obviously. My point was that trying for a draw with White, as indicated by the declared intention behind  the Gambit offered above, doesn't match the true intention behind having the white pieces.

@ saintgermain :

I like 3.d4 which is an agressive way to meet Petroff.

I've never seen your Nxf7 before, which leads to a forced draw, but really, white can play other moves...

"white plays for a win", and u make them playing for a draw??

Not really, making fun of it.