Tired of Dubious Sicilians? Try the Principled 1.e4 e5!

At some point in their career, Sicilian players must understand the inherent risk they’re taking when taking such an imbalanced position early on, so why not play the most principled opening and get a solid strategic position?

I believe that having one 1.e4 e5 opening at your disposal is a good idea for a couple of reasons:
1. You take little risk when choosing a symmetrical pawn advance on the first move, unlike the Sicilian or Caro-Kann which can get very forcing and critical early on
2. There are many deviations from the mainlines, so you can get different positions every game
3. The plans are very straight forward in 1.e4 e5 structures and you can play logical and principled chess
4. The better player will win with better understanding of the position
5. You can always rely on 1.e4 e5 when all else fails

As a sneak peak check out the introduction chapter below on the lines discussed in this study

Now the benefit of the Petrov specifically is:
1. Higher rated players will get frustrated of the equalizing power of the Petrov, leading to over-ambitious play
2. With good preparation, you basically a draw at hand
3. Sidelines such as the Vienna or Bishop's Opening are not critical at all
4. You avoid many major openings with piles of theory such as the Italian and the Scotch Game

Cons:
1. Against lower rated players, there are lines that lead to complete equality with a lot of simplification. In this case, another opening may suit your goals better

When you're ready to venture into a real classical approach, the Petrov is here as a reliable weapon for you!
https://youtu.be/N_OB8YtThxU