Philidor Defense (2. Nf3 d6)
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
The Philidor Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO C41, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6. White is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 301,427 times by this move order. White won 51%, 4% were drawn and Black won 45%. The most popular continuation is 3. Bc4 (42% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.55 (Stockfish, depth 55; best line 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7)
- ECO
- C41
- Moves
- 4 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/4p3/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 3- PGN
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 154,822 | |
| 1500-1999 | 136,121 | |
| 2000+ | 10,484 | |
| All | 301,427 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Bc4 Philidor Defense (2… d6 3. Bc4) | 127,815 (42%) | |
| 3. d4 Philidor Defense (2… d6 3. d4) | 92,097 (31%) | |
| 3. Nc3 | 36,682 (12%) | |
| 3. h3 | 14,356 (5%) | |
| 3. c3 | 11,509 (4%) | |
| 3. Bb5+ | 6,987 (2%) | |
| 3. d3 | 4,763 (2%) | |
| 3. Be2 | 2,493 (1%) |
Master games
838 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 43%, draw 14%, Black 43%). The strongest:
- GM Alexander Morozevich (2770) – GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2726) 0-1 · World Rapid Final · 2012-07-06
- GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2716) – GM Mateusz Bartel (2659) 1-0 · Before Trzcianka GM Blitz 2014 · 2014-04-12
- GM Victor Bologan (2608) – GM Praggnanandhaa R (2746) 0-1 · WR Chess Masters 2024 · 2024-10-14
- GM Parham Maghsoodloo (2676) – GM Kirill Shevchenko (2592) 1/2-1/2 · C'Chartres Blitz Open · 2020-11-28
- GM Shamsiddin Vokhidov (2596) – GM Mateusz Bartel (2657) 1-0 · Titled Tue 9th Jan Early · 2024-01-09
Search all games of the Philidor Defense and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Kruciatos (2770) – FM Tsoi_Dima (2845) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- human_machine (2698) – RoryMcCann (2726) 0-1 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- sunchess137 (2711) – RoryMcCann (2685) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
King's Knight Opening 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Continuations
- Philidor Defense (2… d6 3. d4) C41 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4
- Philidor Defense (2… d6 3. Bc4) C41 · 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4
More Philidor Defense lines (all)
- Philidor Defense (3. Bc4 Be7) C41
- Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit C41
- Philidor Defense: Berger Variation C41
- Philidor Defense: Bird Gambit C41
- Philidor Defense: Boden Variation C41
- Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation (3. d4 exd4) C41
- Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation (3… exd4 4. Nxd4) C41
- Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation (4. Nxd4 Nf6) C41
- Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation C41
- Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Delmar Variation C41
- Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Krause Variation C41
- Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Schlechter Variation C41
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.