5 / 5
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.

Click a move, or focus the board and use the arrow keys.

Philidor Defense

C41For BlackSolidLow theory

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4

A line for Black. Every figure below is computed separately for each rating band, and every one carries its own sample size.

Win rate, Black
42.1%43.7%44.1%43.3%
Band 600, n = 25,012Band 1000, n = 121,586Band 1400, n = 101,052Band 1800, n = 166,111
Blunder rate
34.5%43.6%41.3%33.8%
Band median 44.6%Band median 42.9%Band median 40.0%Band median 36.4%
Tier
CCCC
Black, band 600Black, band 1000Black, band 1400Black, band 1800
Share of games
0.6%0.9%0.9%0.8%
Of band 600 gamesOf band 1000 gamesOf band 1400 gamesOf band 1800 games
Every band, source period 2026-05
BandWhiteDrawBlackBlunderBook exitGamesTier
60053.2%4.7%42.1%34.5%ply 5.025,012C
100052.1%4.1%43.7%43.6%ply 5.0121,586C
140051.7%4.2%44.1%41.3%ply 5.0101,052C
180051.9%4.8%43.3%33.8%ply 5.0166,111C

Results by band

What it actually does, band by band.

All four bands are on the page. The one matching your rating is marked. Nothing here is averaged across bands.

600Your bandC at 600Blunder rate 34.5%, band median 44.6%

At 600, the Philidor Defense scores 42.1% for Black across 25,012 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 34.5% include an early material blunder (29 games at 600).

1000Your bandC at 1000Blunder rate 43.6%, band median 42.9%

At 1000, the Philidor Defense scores 43.7% for Black across 121,586 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 43.6% include an early material blunder (140 games at 1000).

1400Your bandC at 1400Blunder rate 41.3%, band median 40.0%

At 1400, the Philidor Defense scores 44.1% for Black across 101,052 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 41.3% include an early material blunder (75 games at 1400).

1800Your bandC at 1800Blunder rate 33.8%, band median 36.4%

At 1800, the Philidor Defense scores 43.3% for Black across 166,111 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 33.8% include an early material blunder (136 games at 1800).

Variations

Where the line goes next.

The lines that continue the Philidor Defense, most played first at your band. Switch the band in the header and both the figures and the order follow.

  • CCDDC41

    Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation

    1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4

    0.1% of games at 600, n = 5,9210.3% of games at 1000, n = 47,8330.5% of games at 1400, n = 53,5920.5% of games at 1800, n = 104,530

Questions

Common questions about this page.

At 600, the Philidor Defense scores 42.1% for Black across 25,012 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 34.5% include an early material blunder (29 games at 600).

At 1000, the Philidor Defense scores 43.7% for Black across 121,586 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 43.6% include an early material blunder (140 games at 1000).

The Philidor Defense (C41) is a line for Black. The main line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4.