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Philidor Defense

37 variations · 46M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Philidor Defense gives White a 52.3% expected score — a strong opening choice.

With a minimum advantage of 4.6%, this opening reliably outperforms the baseline 50% expected score.

You play
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Rating
Time
White Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 52.3% – 52.4%Aggregated from 37 variations
0%52.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 52.3% – 52.4%
ContextOverall · n=46M
Outcome Distribution
50.2%4.1%45.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Be7
Philidor Defense
Variations37
Games (Context)46M
Avg Length34 moves
Draw Rate4.1%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for White · Overall

#1Philidor Defense: Paulsen AttackTop Pick
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 d5 5.exd5
Min adv +17.1% · n=15K
59.2%
#2Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop Sacrifice
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+
Min adv +15.0% · n=6.6K
58.5%
#3Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Forcing Line
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.Ng5 O-O 7.Bxf7+ Rxf7 8.Ne6
Min adv +12.9% · n=3.9K
57.8%
#4Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, Zukertort Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.Nc3
Min adv +11.3% · n=124K
55.9%
#5Philidor Defense: Bird Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3
Min adv +9.8% · n=311K
55.1%
#6Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.g4
Min adv +9.2% · n=15K
55.3%
#7Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bc4
Min adv +8.7% · n=273K
54.6%
#8Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5
Min adv +7.7% · n=12K
54.6%
#9Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4
Min adv +6.7% · n=579K
53.5%
#10Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Ng5
Min adv +5.4% · n=9.8K
53.6%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Philidor Defense expected score for White?

Snapshot

Overall, the Philidor Defense family has a 52.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 52.3% and 52.4%), aggregated from 37 variations and 46M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Stable across ratings (~50%)

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 49.8% win rate (3,002,491 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.7% win rate (5,499,238 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.3% win rate (8,599,838 games)
  • 1400-1599: 50.1% win rate (10,563,071 games)
  • 1600-1799: 50.2% win rate (9,597,415 games)
  • 1800-1999: 50.3% win rate (5,983,223 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.5% win rate (2,223,412 games)
  • 2200-2499: 50.0% win rate (715,310 games)
  • 2500+: 50.0% win rate (131,006 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (53%), worst in Bullet (50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 50.0% win rate (67,106 games)
  • Bullet: 49.5% win rate (10,596,919 games)
  • Blitz: 50.2% win rate (25,274,778 games)
  • Rapid: 51.0% win rate (9,988,351 games)
  • Classical: 52.5% win rate (387,850 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · White expected scores

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 45.6% expected score (3,630 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (657,166 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (1,593,534 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (742,144 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 51.8% expected score (6,017 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 47.0% expected score (8,870 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (1,228,858 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 52.6% expected score (3,042,515 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 54.2% expected score (1,194,056 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 54.5% expected score (24,939 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 48.6% expected score (19,621 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (1,795,329 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (4,780,024 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 53.4% expected score (1,939,201 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (65,663 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 51.4% expected score (17,163 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (2,106,471 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 52.2% expected score (5,849,810 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (2,454,702 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 53.8% expected score (134,925 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 55.5% expected score (8,497 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.8% expected score (1,974,624 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.5% expected score (5,353,353 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 53.3% expected score (2,149,167 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 55.8% expected score (111,774 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.8% expected score (4,963 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (1,502,786 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (3,246,216 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.1% expected score (1,190,273 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 57.6% expected score (38,985 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.1% expected score (2,855 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.0% expected score (833,918 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 53.4% expected score (1,098,809 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 56.1% expected score (282,804 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 61.4% expected score (5,026 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 56.9% expected score (1,382 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (402,750 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.1% expected score (275,958 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (34,769 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.8% expected score (451 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 59.1% expected score (125 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (95,017 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 55.5% expected score (34,559 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.2% expected score (1,235 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 75.9% expected score (70 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (37)

1
Philidor Defense: Paulsen Attack15K games
59.2%
2
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop Sacrifice6.6K games
58.5%
3
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Forcing Line3.9K games
57.8%
Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, Zukertort Variation124K games
55.9%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation722K games
55.7%
Philidor Defense: Bird Gambit311K games
55.1%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit15K games
55.3%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein Variation273K games
54.6%
Philidor Defense: Philidor Gambit41K games
54.6%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation12K games
54.6%
Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit579K games
53.5%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Sharp Variation3.1K games
54.7%
Philidor Defense: Larsen Variation162K games
53.2%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Locock Variation9.8K games
53.6%
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation6.1M games
52.7%
Philidor Defense35M games
52.3%
Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation8.2K games
53.1%
Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit547K games
52.0%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Sokolsky Variation1.9K games
53.7%
Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit276K games
51.5%
Philidor Defense: Steinitz Variation433K games
51.4%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Delmar Variation19K games
51.8%
Philidor Defense: Boden Variation34K games
51.5%
Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, del Rio Attack9.7K games
50.9%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation750K games
49.0%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Schlechter Variation54K games
48.9%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Bc4 and h625K games
48.9%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Krause Variation19K games
48.7%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation751K games
48.1%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c610.0K games
48.2%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation9.9K games
47.7%
Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit36K games
46.6%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Bishop Sacrifice16K games
46.0%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch, Larobok Variation207 games
48.1%
Philidor Defense: Berger Variation161 games
44.8%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Sozin Variation425 games
41.8%
Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, Berger Variation133 games
36.6%
Analyze Philidor Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philidor Defense win rate?

The Philidor Defense family has a 50.2% (90% CI: 50.2%-50.3%) win rate for white, aggregated from 37 variations and 46M rated games from Lichess.

How many Philidor Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 37 Philidor Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Philidor Defense perform best?

The Philidor Defense family performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 50.7% win rate for white (5.5M games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Philidor Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (52.5%) outperforms Bullet (49.5%) by 3.0% across all Philidor Defense variations.

How sharp is the Philidor Defense?

Philidor Defense games are 95.9% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 34 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Philidor Defense a good opening family?

The Philidor Defense family is statistically favors white overall with a 50.2% (90% CI: 50.2%-50.3%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 37 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.