Petroff or the Philidor

If you had to choose

Which one and why? 

Philidor

Easy!

Petroff!

Reason is two-fold.

1) The sounder of the two (objectively speaking)

2) Metcalf personally, it's an extremely easy choice as the only two openings I have played over the board as Black against 1.e4 in the last 8 years have been 1...e6 and 1...e5, and against 2.Nf3 after 1.e4 e5, 100% of the time I responded 2...Nf6, so a VERY EASY choice for me.

Way less theory.

If your main prerogative is less theory, play the Borg (1.e4 g5). Poor excuse to choose the Philidor over the Petroff.

The Petroff is fine. I wasn't suggesting that the Philidor was better. I was referring to the overall amount of theory needed to play the Petroff as opposed to the Philidor. Particularly, White's second move alternatives.

This is why I generally don't answer questions like this because I end up having to write paragraphs explaining what my reasons are.

Chess is a big ocean. There is room to swim for every one.

Personally, Philidor. White has fewer choices of different plan, making it easier to learn and I don't have much time to devote to opening study. I know that's not a good objective reason for a preference, but in the world as-we-have-it one must cut one's suit to fit one's cloth. Black keeps White guessing about his broad intentions a little longer too; as in, "Is this going to be a classical Philidor or a Hanham/Lion or even a Mestel-style Philidor Gambit?".

Petroff, because your opponents will eventually find very aggressive lines versus your Philidor/Lion and all your study there will be questionable, I have played both

I would choose the Philidor because it is less symmetrical and more unbalanced.

I would pick the Philidor.

The Philidor isn't any less solid vs. Petroff.

I would argue both openings are top tier.

The Philidor has been played by players such as Magnus, Levon, Dubov, Ivanchuk and list goes on

The Philidor has been played using both the Classical Philidor move order and the alternative Pirc move order which can transpose into Philidor.

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I will admit.

I have played the Philidor and so you could say I am a little bit more Bias towards the Philidor.

I use to tell people the Philidor is more beginner friendly.

However, I think times have changed. I think both lines can be beginner friendly.

The introduction of the Stafford Gambit (Petroff side line) has become very popular among aggressive beginners so the Petroff has been gaining some steam due to side line players like to play.

The Stafford Gambit isn’t as solid as normal Petroff or Philidor, but it can be a lot of fun.

So yeah - you have options.

I still would recommend Philidor though just because I like it.

I like to play 1...,d6 against 1.e4.

It avoids most of White's second move alternatives instead of 2.Nf3. I think it makes it hard for white to play variations like the Bishops opening or the Urasov Gambit properly. White can still play 2.Nc3 but I think it still transposes into the Philidor if that is what Black wants. I don't know, I'm still studying.

If white plays 1.e4,d6 2.f4,... I have two choices. I can play the Fischer defense in the Kings Gambit Declined. Or I can play 2...,c5 and go into a Gran Prix Sicilian.

I believe with the Petroff move order you will have to know theory in the Kings Gambit, the Bishops opening, the Urasov Gambit, and white playing 2.Nc3.

I guess that x) g3,... is also an option for White with a kingside fianchetto.