Chess opening · ECO C41
Philidor Defense
The Philidor Defense starts 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6. It ranks #11 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... e5Black pushes the e-pawn two squares to e5, staking a claim in the center.
- 2. Nf3White develops the kingside knight to f3.
- 2... d6Black advances the d-pawn to d6.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Among players rated under 1200, the most popular next move is Bc4; among players rated 2000 and up, it is d4.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Bc4 30% | d4 28% | Nc3 19% |
| 1200–1399 | Bc4 34% | d4 29% | Nc3 16% |
| 1400–1599 | Bc4 39% | d4 30% | Nc3 11% |
| 1600–1799 | Bc4 41% | d4 34% | Nc3 8% |
| 1800–1999 | d4 46% | Bc4 41% | Nc3 5% |
| 2000 and up | d4 67% | Bc4 25% | Nc3 5% |
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