ECO C41 · Philidor Defense

Philidor Defense: Paulsen Attack

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… Qxd5+1.05

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Philidor Defense: Paulsen Attack (C41), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Qxd5 for Black. White is clearly better (+1.05).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.055… Qxd5 6. Qe2+ Be6 7. Nb5 Qd7 8. Bf4 Na6 9. N1c3 Bc5 10. Qf3
  2. +1.435… Nf6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. O-O Be7 8. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 9. c4 O-O 10. Bf4
  3. +1.455… Bb4+ 6. c3 Bc5 7. Nb3 Bd6 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Philidor Defense: Paulsen Attack?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Qxd5 for Black, continuing 6. Qe2+ Be6 7. Nb5 Qd7 8. Bf4 Na6 9. N1c3 Bc5 10. Qf3. White is clearly better (+1.05). The next best moves are 5… Nf6 (+1.43) and 5… Bb4+ (+1.45).
Is the Philidor Defense: Paulsen Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.05: 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: Paulsen Attack?
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+).