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Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit

Black Gambit

Source Lichess

You play
Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level
All Ratings
Edge at worst−14.8%

Black isn't shown winning more often than losing at this level

how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident

Rating TrendPeak: −12.1% at 2000-2199
0-9992200-2499
Win%42.1%
Games5.9K
Breakpoint0-999first rating it isn't shown winning more than losing
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Does Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit work for Black at All Ratings?

Snapshot

At All Ratings, Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit keeps Black's wins running −14.8% ahead of its losses at worst, 90% confident, from 5.9K Lichess games. The games don't show this gambit paying at this level. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

RatingEdge at worstBlack WinDrawBlack LossGames
0-999−19.0%40.8%5.2%54.0%759
1000-1199−21.3%40.1%4.3%55.6%748
1200-1399−26.6%38.9%1.9%59.3%666
1400-1599−25.0%39.5%2.4%58.1%635
1600-1799−16.4%43.4%2.9%53.7%709
1800-1999−16.5%43.1%2.7%54.1%862
2000-2199−12.1%46.0%1.9%52.1%748
2200-2499−14.3%43.8%4.3%51.9%705
Full Opening StatsSee rating/time-control breakdowns for Black on the opening stats page
Analyze Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit sound?

Not shown to be. Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see: its best Edge at worst, at 2000-2199, is −12.1%.

What is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit win rate?

Black wins 42.1% of Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit games, draws 3.2% and loses 54.8%. That rests on 5.9K games from Lichess.

What is the best rating to play the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?

No rating in these games shows it paying. Black's Edge at worst is highest at 2000-2199: −12.1%, how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident.

Is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit better in blitz or rapid?

Blitz. For Black, the Edge at worst — how far wins run ahead of losses, 90% confident — is −15.1% in Blitz (2.0K games) and −27.3% in Rapid (1.0K games). In neither do the games show Black winning more than losing.

Does the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit breakpoint vary by time control?

No. The first rating where the games do not show Black coming out ahead is 0-999 in Bullet, 0-999 in Blitz and 0-999 in Rapid.

How sharp is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?

The Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit is extremely sharp: 3.2% of its games are drawn, so 96.8% end with a winner.

Should I play the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?

Not for the results: Black does not come out ahead at any rating we can see.

How do I defend against the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit?

As White, take the material, then develop fast, castle early, and trade pieces. Give the material back when doing so kills the attack. Black does not come out ahead with it at any rating we can see.

How reliable is the Vienna Game: Philidor Countergambit data?

This rests on 5.9K games from Lichess. Every figure carries the range it is in, 90% confident, and the table above shows how many games sit behind each rating and each clock — the fewer there are, the wider that range.