ECO C41 · Philidor Defense

Philidor Defense: Larsen Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6

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

5. Nc3+0.85

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Philidor Defense: Larsen Variation (C41), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.85).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.855. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3 O-O 9. O-O-O Re8
  2. +0.805. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Ng4 7. Bf4 Bg7 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6
  3. +0.585. Bf4 Bg7 6. Qd2 Nc6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. O-O-O Qe7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Philidor Defense: Larsen Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White, continuing Bg7 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3 O-O 9. O-O-O Re8. White is clearly better (+0.85). The next best moves are 5. Be3 (+0.80) and 5. Bf4 (+0.58).
Is the Philidor Defense: Larsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.85: white is clearly 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: Larsen 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+).