Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Marshall Variation, Chinese Gambit

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C42), reached after 18 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bg4.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Marshall Variation, Chinese Gambit is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code C42. ECO group C (C00–C99) covers open games (1.e4 e5) and the French Defence, including the Ruy Lopez, Italian, Scotch and King's Gambit. This particular variation is reached after 18 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Re1 Bg4.

It belongs to the Petrov's Defense family. Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the Classical Attack → Marshall Variation → Chinese Gambit line). The immediate parent line is Petrov's Defense: Classical Attack, Marshall Variation, transitioned via 9…Bg4.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nf6, 3.Nxe5 d6, 4.Nf3 Nxe4, 5.d4 d5, 6.Bd3 Bd6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.