Chessy
Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack — Black's guide
After 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 c6, you are choosing a solid, flexible setup with Black. The position is still very early, but White already has several ways to press, and your job is to answer with calm, accurate moves instead of drifting. The drill below lets you practise the exact position where the main decision starts, so you can feel what Black should do when White aims for an early initiative.
Play the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack against the engine
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Create a free account →The main idea behind c6
The move c6 is a direct way to support the centre and prepare a stable reply to White's bishop opening. You are not trying to grab the initiative with tactics right away; you are trying to keep the position under control and meet White's central play with sound development. That is why the engine's best move for White here is d4: White wants the centre opened while the pieces are still coming out. As Black, your mindset should be simple — stay coordinated, meet the centre honestly, and do not waste tempi on random pawn moves.
What the engine says about this position
Stockfish rates this +0.39, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The database also shows that White scores 51.7% across 2,684,353 games at this exact position, so this is not a refutation of Black's setup, but White does have a modest practical pull. In other words, you need to know the plan and expect White to ask the first questions.
Where White usually tries to go
The most played continuations are Nf3, d3, Qf3, Qh5, Nc3, and Bxf7+. That tells you what kind of game you should expect: White often develops naturally, but also tries direct pressure with the queen and bishop. Your task is not to fear every try — it is to recognise which moves are harmless, which need attention, and which should be answered firmly. The drill is especially useful because these choices come up again and again in practical play.
Punish the common inaccuracies
Two moves stand out in the database as inaccuracies: d3 and Qf3. The move d3 loses about 0.5 pawns, and Qf3 loses about 0.6 pawns. The big tactical overreach is Bxf7+, which is a mistake and loses about 2.5 pawns. If White starts grabbing on f7 too early, do not panic; stay alert to the fact that this is often more hopeful than sound. The best answer listed for those situations is still the central approach with d4.
Results across 2,684,353 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 796,658 | 51.6% |
| d3 | 377,129 | 49.3% |
| Qf3 | 351,900 | 50.1% |
| Qh5 | 346,197 | 56.4% |
| Nc3 | 307,776 | 53.5% |
| Bxf7+ | 107,763 | 52.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack good for Black?
It is playable, but the engine gives White a small edge with +0.39. That means Black is not lost, but White is a little better and can press if you are careless. The opening works best when you know the main ideas and do not drift into passive defence.
What is Black's best move in this position?
The engine's best move here is d4, continuing d4 d5 exd5 cxd5. That is the clearest central answer in this exact position. If you remember one thing, remember that White's central play should be met head-on.
Which White move is most common here?
The most-played continuation is Nf3, with 796,658 games. Other common tries are d3, Qf3, Qh5, Nc3, and Bxf7+. Knowing these helps you prepare for practical over-the-board play rather than only the engine line.
What mistakes should I watch for as White?
The database marks d3 as an inaccuracy, Qf3 as an inaccuracy, and Bxf7+ as a mistake. In particular, Bxf7+ loses about 2.5 pawns, so it is a serious overreach. When you practise the drill as Black, focus on staying calm and meeting these ideas correctly.
How many games feature the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack position. White wins 51.7%, Black wins 44.7%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.