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Philidor DefenseExchange Variation

C41For BlackSolidLow theory

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4

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
43.1%45.7%45.2%43.7%
Band 600, n = 4,020Band 1000, n = 31,434Band 1400, n = 37,346Band 1800, n = 75,896
Blunder rate
57.1%50.0%53.4%41.7%
Band median 44.6%Band median 42.9%Band median 40.0%Band median 36.4%
Tier
DCDD
Black, band 600Black, band 1000Black, band 1400Black, band 1800
Share of games
0.1%0.2%0.3%0.4%
Of band 600 gamesOf band 1000 gamesOf band 1400 gamesOf band 1800 games
Every band, source period 2026-05
BandWhiteDrawBlackBlunderBook exitGamesTier
60052.3%4.6%43.1%57.1%ply 7.04,020D
100050.4%4.0%45.7%50.0%ply 7.031,434C
140050.7%4.1%45.2%53.4%ply 7.037,346D
180051.5%4.8%43.7%41.7%ply 7.075,896D

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 57.1%, band median 44.6%

At 600, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 43.1% for Black across 4,020 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 57.1% include an early material blunder (7 games at 600).

1000Your bandC at 1000Blunder rate 50.0%, band median 42.9%

At 1000, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 45.7% for Black across 31,434 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 50.0% include an early material blunder (62 games at 1000).

1400Your bandD at 1400Blunder rate 53.4%, band median 40.0%

At 1400, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 45.2% for Black across 37,346 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 53.4% include an early material blunder (73 games at 1400).

1800Your bandD at 1800Blunder rate 41.7%, band median 36.4%

At 1800, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 43.7% for Black across 75,896 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 41.7% include an early material blunder (156 games at 1800).

Questions

Common questions about this page.

At 600, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 43.1% for Black across 4,020 games. Most openings score better than this at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 57.1% include an early material blunder (7 games at 600).

At 1000, the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation scores 45.7% for Black across 31,434 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 4 on average, and 50.0% include an early material blunder (62 games at 1000).

The Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation (C41) is a line for Black. The main line runs 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4.