Chessy
Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack d3 — Playing as Black
The Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack with 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 c6 3.d3 d5 is a direct and combative choice for Black. Instead of letting White build a quiet Italian-style centre, you strike immediately in the middle. According to the engine, the position is dead level — neither side has an edge out of the opening — and the statistics from over 229,000 games confirm just how balanced it is: White wins 48.0%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 48.2%. The drill below will help you handle White's most common replies and punish the mistakes you are most likely to see.
Play the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack: d3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill now and practise meeting White's most common moves as Black. Create a free account to track your progress and see how your score
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
By playing 2...c6 and 3...d5, Black takes control of the central fight ahead of development. Your pawn on d5 challenges White's e4 pawn directly, and you are ready to recapture in the centre depending on how White reacts. The engine gives -0.20, a tiny plus for Black, meaning this position is essentially equal, and you are doing just fine. Your goal is simple: complete your development, keep the centre stable, and look for chances against White's slightly misplaced bishop on c4, which may come under attack from a5-a4 ideas.
The Engine's Best Answer: Bb3
The engine's top recommendation for White is 4.Bb3, retreating the bishop before it can be attacked. After 4.Bb3, the engine continues with a5 a4 dxe4 — Black chases the bishop with the a-pawn and then captures on e4. This line keeps the game tense and roughly equal. But in practice, White plays 4.Bb3 in only about 11,119 of the 229,650 recorded games — a small minority. The overwhelming majority of opponents choose a different path, which is good news for you.
The Critical Reply: 4.exd5
By far the most common move White makes here is 4.exd5, occurring in over 214,000 games. After White captures on d5, Black recaptures with the c-pawn, giving up the centre but gaining a comfortable pawn structure with the half-open c-file. White scores just 48.3% from this position — meaning you are slightly more likely to win than your opponent. Even though the evaluation is balanced, many White players don't know how to handle the resulting positions, and Black's play is straightforward: develop your pieces, castle, and use the open files in the centre.
Three Blunders to Watch For
Some of White's logical-looking moves are actually serious blunders in this position. Knowing them gives you a huge practical edge. Nf3 drops roughly 3.2 pawns of advantage (the engine says Bb3 was much better). Nc3 loses about 3.8 pawns. And c3? That's the worst of all: a blunder costing roughly 4.0 pawns. If White plays any of these, you can seize a significant advantage. In the drill, the engine will show you exactly how to punish these mistakes — typically by capturing on e4 or launching an aggressive counterattack against White's uncastled king.
Results across 229,650 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exd5 | 214,871 | 48.3% |
| Bb3 | 11,119 | 48.9% |
| Nf3 | 1,198 | 28.5% |
| Nc3 | 627 | 26.3% |
| c3 | 341 | 25.8% |
| Be3 | 339 | 29.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bishop's Opening Philidor Counterattack good for Black?
Yes, it is a solid and equal choice. The engine rates the position at -0.20, a tiny plus for Black, and the stats from 229,650 games show Black actually wins slightly more often (48.2%) than White (48.0%). It is a practical and underrated opening.
What is the best move for White after 3...d5?
The engine recommends 4.Bb3, retreating the bishop. After that, the typical continuation is a5 a4 dxe4. However, most club players choose 4.exd5 instead, which leads to a comfortable position for Black after recapturing with the c-pawn — leaving Black with a solid centre.
Why are Nf3, Nc3, and c3 blunders for White?
Each of those moves ignores the immediate tension in the centre. The engine calculates that Bb3 was much better, while Nf3 loses about 3.2 pawns, Nc3 about 3.8 pawns, and c3 about 4.0 pawns. White needs to deal with the d5 pawn tension or retreat the bishop first.
Should I play 3...d5 as Black against the Bishop's Opening?
Absolutely. It is a principled central break that immediately fights for equality. Your winning chances are 48.2% from this position, and White has several ways to go wrong. It's an excellent practical weapon, especially at the club level.
How many games feature the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack: d3?
Over 229K Lichess games have reached the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Counterattack: d3 position. White wins 48.0%, Black wins 48.2%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.