ECO C41 · Philidor Defense

Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation

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

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

4. Nxd4+0.58

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation (C41), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nxd4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.58).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.584. Nxd4 c5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. Nf5 g6 8. Ne3 Nf6
  2. +0.554. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Ne7 6. Qc3 a6 7. Bc4 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5
  3. +0.324. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd3 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. O-O Na5

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4
  • 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nxd4 for White, continuing c5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. Nf5 g6 8. Ne3 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.58). The next best moves are 4. Qxd4 (+0.55) and 4. Bc4 (+0.32).
Is the Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.58: white is slightly better. 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 Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation?
C41. 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+).