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Philidor Defense

C41For BlackSolidLow theory

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7

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
45.4%49.0%49.1%47.2%
Band 600, n = 1,164Band 1000, n = 14,583Band 1400, n = 20,228Band 1800, n = 52,122
Blunder rate
50.0%39.1%29.7%31.2%
Band median 44.6%Band median 42.9%Band median 40.0%Band median 36.4%
Tier
DBBC
Black, band 600Black, band 1000Black, band 1400Black, band 1800
Share of games
0.0%0.1%0.2%0.2%
Of band 600 gamesOf band 1000 gamesOf band 1400 gamesOf band 1800 games
Every band, source period 2026-05
BandWhiteDrawBlackBlunderBook exitGamesTier
60051.4%3.3%45.4%50.0%ply 6.01,164D
100047.4%3.6%49.0%39.1%ply 6.014,583B
140046.9%4.0%49.1%29.7%ply 6.020,228B
180048.1%4.7%47.2%31.2%ply 6.052,122C

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 bandD at 600Blunder rate 50.0%, band median 44.6%

At 600, the Philidor Defense scores 45.4% for Black across 1,164 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 50.0% include an early material blunder (2 games at 600).

1000Your bandB at 1000Blunder rate 39.1%, band median 42.9%

At 1000, the Philidor Defense scores 49.0% for Black across 14,583 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 39.1% include an early material blunder (23 games at 1000).

1400Your bandB at 1400Blunder rate 29.7%, band median 40.0%

At 1400, the Philidor Defense scores 49.1% for Black across 20,228 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 29.7% include an early material blunder (37 games at 1400).

1800Your bandC at 1800Blunder rate 31.2%, band median 36.4%

At 1800, the Philidor Defense scores 47.2% for Black across 52,122 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 31.2% include an early material blunder (77 games at 1800).

Questions

Common questions about this page.

At 600, the Philidor Defense scores 45.4% for Black across 1,164 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 50.0% include an early material blunder (2 games at 600).

At 1000, the Philidor Defense scores 49.0% for Black across 14,583 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 3 on average, and 39.1% include an early material blunder (23 games at 1000).

The Philidor Defense (C41) is a line for Black. The main line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7.