Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO C42), reached after 9 half-moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4.

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: Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation 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 9 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 Kxf7 5. d4.

It belongs to the Petrov's Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Cochrane Gambit → Center Variation line). The immediate parent line is Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit, transitioned via 5.d4.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 e5, 2.Nf3 Nf6, 3.Nxe5 d6, 4.Nxf7 Kxf7, 5.d4. 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.