Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit
The Kholmov Gambit follows 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7, with Black meeting the e-file attack by putting a queen on the same file. White can grab the knight with 5.Qxe4, while Black plans ...d6 to win back the pinned knight on e5 and play for activity.
- Moves
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7
- ECO
- C42
- Engine
- +0.53 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 682 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 49.4%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Take with 5.Qxe4 and answer ...d6 with d4, so after the trades on e5 you keep a pawn there.
- Pin and develop with Bb5 against the c6 knight, as the engine line shows, then castle short.
- Protect e5 with Bf4 and Nc3; if the pawn holds, White is simply a pawn up.
- The sharper 5.d4 d5 6.c4 keeps queens on but gives Black more counterplay.
Black
- After 5.Qxe4 play ...d6 to attack the e5 knight, which cannot move without exposing White's queen.
- Bring the knight to c6 to hit the e5 pawn and prepare ...Bd7 against Bb5.
- Use the d-file for a rook once the d-pawns disappear, and keep the queen active on the e-file.
- Against 5.d3 trade on c6 and e7, reaching a level ending.
Plans and pawn structure
In the main line White keeps a pawn on e5 and the queens stay on the e-file. White develops with Bb5, Bf4, Nc3 and short castling, then trades queens to make the extra pawn count. Black looks for activity: ...Nc6, ...Bd7 and pressure on e5, with a rook coming to d8. Black scores well in practice because White must find accurate moves to keep e5.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.53: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.53 5.Qxe4 d6 6.d4 dxe5 7.dxe5 Nc6
- +0.10 5.d4 d5 6.c4 f6 7.cxd5 fxe5
- +0.06 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Nxc6 dxc6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
682 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.4%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As White, take the knight with 5.Qxe4 and recapture with d4 after ...d6. Keep e5 protected with Bf4 and avoid leaving the e-file pin on your own pieces unresolved. Castle short quickly and look for a queen trade.
Questions
What are the moves of the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit?
The Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7. Its ECO code is C42.
Is the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.53 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 682 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.4%. White's side suits players who like keeping a small material edge, while Black needs active piece play and nerves to make the gambit work.
What is the main idea of the Petrov's Defense: Damiano Variation, Kholmov Gambit?
Both queens stand on the e-file and each side's knight is pinned. White grabs the e4 knight and keeps a pawn on e5 after ...d6 and d4, while Black uses ...Nc6, ...Bd7 and the d-file to try to regain it.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Qxe4, with d4 and d3 close behind. 5.Qxe4 grabs the knight, and after ...d6 6.d4 White keeps an extra pawn on e5.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.