Openings 1.e4 e5: open games
Philidor Defense: Plans, Legal’s Mate and Stats by Rating
2...d6 defends e5 with a pawn. It is easy to learn and hard to break, but it is passive: Black’s dark-squared bishop sits behind the d6 pawn. Many club players use it as a no-theory answer to 1.e4.
C41Philidor Defense
Games from this position (1600–1999): 138k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42% | 57k | ||
| 36% | 50k | ||
| 8% | 12k | ||
| 5% | 7,070 | ||
| 5% | 6,203 | ||
| 1% | 1,580 | ||
| 1% | 1,391 | ||
| 0.8% | 1,142 | ||
| 0.3% | 382 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 3.d4 is the most testing move: it asks Black at once whether to hold e5 or give it up.
- After 3...exd4 4.Nxd4 you have free development and more space.
- Against slow setups, Bc4 and Ng5 ideas against f7 come up often.
Black
- Choose a setup: ...exd4 and ...Nf6–...Be7 (open), or ...Nf6, ...Nbd7 and ...Be7 (Hanham, holding e5).
- Do not let White’s bishop and knight gang up on f7 before you castle.
- Pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4 only when e5 is safe; it is the start of Legal’s mate.
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Philidor Defense at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 86k2.9% | 3.Bc440% | |
| 1200–1599 | 187k3.2% | 3.Bc443% | |
| 1600–1999 | 138k2.1% | 3.Bc442% | |
| 2000+ | 15k0.7% | 3.d450% | |
| All | 426k2.4% | 3.Bc442% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black gives up the center for free development. White has more space; Black is solid.
12k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7Black keeps the pawn on e5 with ...Nbd7, ...Be7 and ...c6. Watch for Bc4 and Ng5 on f7.
5,406 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 45%, 5% were drawn, Black won 49%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7A common club move. 3...Be7 is calm and safe; 3...Bg4 invites tricks.
29k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 48%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Be7
Common traps
Legal’s mate
With the knight pinned, 5.Nxe5! looks like it gives the queen away. If Black takes it with 5...Bxd1??, then 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5 is mate. After 5.Nxe5 Black should play 5...dxe5 6.Qxg4 and accept being a pawn down.
Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 6.Bxf7+ Ke7 7.Nd5#(ends in mate)Advertisement
At club level
Below 2000 about four in ten White players answer 2...d6 with 3.Bc4 instead of 3.d4. Learn the trap below from both sides: as White it wins quickly, as Black it explains why ...Bg4 can be dangerous.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- King’s Pawn Game: 1.e4 e5
1.e4 e5
- King’s Knight Opening: 2.Nf3
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
- Italian Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
- Bishop’s Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4
- Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
- Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5