Classical Attack, Jaenisch Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3Nf6
- 3.Nxe5d6
- 4.Nf3Nxe4
- 5.d4d5
- 6.Bd3Nc6
- 7.O-OBe7
- 8.c4
441 games
Main line of the Petrov's Classical Attack in which White hits d5 with 8. c4; Black usually answers 8...Nb4 and the play stays close to balanced.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Jaenisch Variation
The Jaenisch Variation, credited to Carl Jaenisch and popular for over a century, arises when White challenges d5 with 8. c4. By far the most common reply is 8...Nb4, hitting the bishop on d3. White normally retreats with 9. Be2, a line popularized by Karpov, in which Kramnik beat Leko twice with White at the 2004 world championship. The knight retreat 8...Nf6 is the main alternative. Engines judge the position roughly balanced.