ECO C25 · Vienna Game

Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4 f5

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

4. dxe5+1.37

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit (C25), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. dxe5 for White. White is clearly better (+1.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.374. dxe5 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe5 6. Nf3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 d5 8. Ng5
  2. +1.334. exf5 Bb4 5. Qh5+ Kf8 6. dxe5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nxe5 8. Ba3+ d6
  3. +1.264. d5 Nce7 5. d6 Nc6 6. exf5 Nf6 7. g4 h6 8. dxc7 Qxc7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d4 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. dxe5 for White, continuing fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe5 6. Nf3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 d5 8. Ng5. White is clearly better (+1.37). The next best moves are 4. exf5 (+1.33) and 4. d5 (+1.26).
Is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.37: 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 Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?
C25. 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+).