ECO C23 · Bishop's Opening

Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3

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

3… d5−0.07

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

Analyze this position

In the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation (C23), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.07).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.073… d5 4. Bxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 c6 8. Bb3
  2. +0.033… Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nfxd7 8. cxd4
  3. +0.073… Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8. Bxb4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Bc5 3. c3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. Bxd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. d4 Bb6 7. Bg5 c6 8. Bb3. The position is roughly equal (−0.07). The next best moves are 3… Nf6 (+0.03) and 3… Nc6 (+0.07).
Is the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.07: 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 Variation?
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+).