Chess opening · ECO C41
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation
Here Black answers 3.d4 by capturing, 3...exd4. The pawn on e5 is gone, so Black no longer has to defend it, and the game opens up. White gets a free hand in the center with the e4 pawn, while Black gets the half-open e-file and simple development with ...Nf6, ...Be7 and castling.
- Rank by weighted share
- #84 of 159
- Material
- Black +1
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4
- 3... exd4Black trades the central pawn instead of holding it. White will recapture, usually with the knight, and the pawn structure becomes e4 against d6. That gives White the half-open d-file and Black the half-open e-file.
Knight or queen on d4
Recapturing with the knight keeps the queen at home and puts a strong piece in the middle of the board. Taking with the queen centralizes her at once, but 4...Nc6 then hits her and gains a tempo for Black.
Pressure on e4 from the e-file
With no pawn on e5, Black's rook can come to e8 and the f6 knight can join in the attack on e4. Many Black setups also bring the bishop back to f8 so the rook has a clear file.
White keeps more space and often plays f4 to take e5 away from Black's pieces. Black's freeing pawn moves are ...c5, which hits the d4 knight, and ...d5, which opens the center while the e-file is already in Black's hands.
Quiet development after 4.Nxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Re8
Both sides have castled. White's knight stands on d4 and the e4 pawn is guarded by the c3 knight. The f6 knight hits e4, and the rook on e8 stands behind the e7 bishop. Once the bishop steps back to f8, the rook joins the pressure on e4.
Top replies by rating
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nxd4 84% | Qxd4 16% | – |
| 1200–1399 | Nxd4 74% | Qxd4 21% | Bc4 3% |
| 1400–1599 | Nxd4 76% | Qxd4 18% | Bc4 4% |
| 1600–1799 | Nxd4 75% | Qxd4 16% | Bc4 6% |
| 1800–1999 | Nxd4 74% | Qxd4 16% | Bc4 7% |
| 2000 and up | Nxd4 77% | Qxd4 16% | c3 4% |
Questions
Does Black lose a pawn after 3...exd4?
No. Black is a pawn up for one move only, and White takes it back on d4. Material is then level, with a more open position than in the lines where Black keeps the e5 pawn.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.