ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. Nc3+0.24

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.24).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.243. Nc3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. O-O O-O
  2. +0.173. d4 d5 4. exd5 cxd5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nxd7 7. Ne2 Bb4+
  3. +0.063. Qe2 d6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Nf6 7. Nxd4 O-O

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 c6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. O-O O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.24). The next best moves are 3. d4 (+0.17) and 3. Qe2 (+0.06).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.24: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack?
C23. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).