Chess Openings Lab
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Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit

The Cochrane Gambit is 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7, where White gives the knight for the f7 pawn to drag Black's king out. White wants a big pawn center and attacking chances, while Black keeps the extra piece by taking with 4...Kxf7 and tucking the king away.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7
ECO
C42
Engine
−1.13 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
395 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 4...Kxf7 play Nc3 and d4, then f4, to build a pawn roller on e4, d4 and f4.
  • Push e5 when it hits the f6 knight and opens lines toward the exposed black king.
  • Develop the dark-squared bishop with Be3 and keep the queen ready for attacks once lines open.
  • Do not trade pieces. White's compensation lives in activity and the king position, not in endgames.

Black

  • Take with 4...Kxf7. Moves like ...Qe7 or ...Bg4 lose the rook on h8 or the queen to the knight.
  • Develop with ...Be6, then walk the king to g8 with ...Kg8 to connect the rook later.
  • Bring the queenside knight out with ...Nbd7 to stop e5 and support central breaks.
  • Return a pawn or even the piece if it kills White's center and leaves you with a safe king.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4...Kxf7 White has two pawns for the knight plus a center and a loose black king. White plays Nc3, d4, f4 and Be3, then tries e5 to open the f-file and the light squares around g8. Black wants ...Be6, ...Kg8 and ...Nbd7, bringing the h8 rook into play later with ...h6 and a king step to h7. When the king is safe, Black's extra piece decides. White must keep pushing before that happens.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −1.13: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −1.13 4...Kxf7 5.Nc3 Be6 6.d4 Kg8 7.f4
  2. +3.82 4...Qe7 5.Nxh8 Nc6 6.d3 Bd7 7.Be2
  3. +3.82 4...Bg4 5.Nxd8 Bxd1 6.Ne6 Bxc2 7.Nxc7+

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

395 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.7%.

under 120050.9%
1200–159946.2%
1600–199951.6%
2000 and up50.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Cochrane Gambit, Center Variation4...Kxf7 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, take with 4...Kxf7 and do not fear the open king. Develop with ...Be6, put the king on g8, and add ...Nbd7 to watch e5. Avoid ...Qe7 and ...Bg4 on move four: the knight on f7 captures your heavy pieces. Give back material calmly if it breaks White's pawn roller.

Questions

What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit?

The Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nxf7. Its ECO code is C42.

Is the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −1.13 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 395 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.7%. An unsound but tricky sacrifice that suits aggressive White players in fast games, while Black only needs to take the knight and develop sensibly.

What is the main idea of the Petrov's Defense: Cochrane Gambit?

White gives up a knight for the f7 pawn and a broken black king. After 4...Kxf7 White rolls e4, d4 and f4 forward and hopes e5 opens lines, while Black consolidates with ...Be6, ...Kg8 and ...Nbd7.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Kxf7, with Qe7 and Bg4 close behind. 4...Kxf7 grabs the piece, and the king is safe enough because White's pieces are not ready to attack it.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.