MNb wrote on 01/30/12 at 10:06:30:
You're somewhat contradicting yourself.
Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 01/30/12 at 06:17:16:
Petroff is actually not too drawish; the positions that arise can actually become quite unbalanced.
Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 01/30/12 at 06:42:41:
I do not think many players who face the Petroff want to play 5. Qe2 unless they for some reason desperately need a draw.
Because it's drawish.
Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 01/30/12 at 06:42:41:
Even in that case, if Black plays with intent and/or is a bit higher rated, then a draw is definitely not a sure result.
So the Petrov is not too drawish, but despite 5.Qe2 being drawish you are sure that the outcome is not sure.
Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 01/30/12 at 06:42:41:
5. Qe2 reminds me of an Exchange French without queens, which should not be too critical;
And if you are not sure that the result is not sure 5.Qe2 at least is not critical.
Gilchrist is a legend wrote on 01/30/12 at 06:42:41:
there have been some recent games in the Exchange French at IM/GM level and most of those games were not draws.
Ah - games in the French Exchange determine if the Petrov is drawish. Or if you were not saying that, why bringing it up?
Fyi: In 65% of the games with the French Exchange with both players 2400+ were drawn.
The percentage for the Petrov 5.Qe2 on that level is 98%; even the "Najdorf-like" 5.Nc3 saw 73% draws.
The Breyer: 52%.
Sometimes numbers say more than sophistic arguments.
I do not know how to search with 2400+, but doing a search on Chessgames.com, I got 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 0-0 as White wins/Draw/Black wins as 40%/46,7%/13,3%, 7. Be3 0-0 in the same line gives 37,7%/44,3%/18%. 365chess.com search gives 6. dxc3 as 41,6%/41,5%/16,9%.
What I mean with regards to 5. Qe2 was that it appears drawish, but if Black just plays the endgame whilst disregarding the reputation of 5. Qe2, there is no reason why cannot strive for a win like in any other opening. 365chess.com search yields 17,5%/65,3%/17,3% for 5. Qe2, so there is scope for play.
The French Exchange was an analogy to 5. Qe2 specifically, as the Petroff 5. Qe2 being slightly similar to a French Exchange without queens. 365chess.com search gives 27,9%/36,7%/35,5% for Exchange French after 3...exd5. There are grandmasters such as Robert Hess who play the Exchange French for a win instead of a draw. I doubt many others deliberately do this, but there must be scope for play if he plays this way.
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