Chessy
Italian Game: Paris Defense — play it as Black
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6, you reach a position where White moves next and Black has already chosen a compact setup. This is not a grab-at-the-centre opening; it is about staying solid, finishing development, and choosing the right moment to meet White’s space. The drill below will train you to handle White’s most common plans and to spot the one move the engine prefers for Black in this exact position.
Play the Italian Game: Paris Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What this position is asking Black to do
The opening is simple on the surface, but the position already has a clear mood. White has the bishop out early and can choose from several natural developing moves, while Black has played d6 and must now be ready to keep the game under control. Your job is not to panic or overreach. Stay solid, complete development, and be ready for White to build a centre. In practical terms, that means you should value king safety and smooth piece play over early tactics that are not there.
The move the engine wants
Stockfish rates this +0.46, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s best move is O-O, and the listed continuation is O-O Be7 d4 exd4. For Black, that is a useful reminder that calm development comes first in this position. If you try to improvise too early, you can drift into a worse game without getting active play.
What the database says about White’s choices
Across 13,895,168 games at this exact position, White wins 51.5%, draws 4.1%, and Black wins 44.4%. Those numbers tell you that White has a practical pull, even if the position is still very playable. The most common continuations are d3, d4, Nc3, O-O, c3, and h3. As Black, you should expect White to choose one of these natural developing moves and be ready for a standard middlegame rather than a forced tactical line.
The main mistake to know
There is one known mistake in this position: d3 is an inaccuracy, and it loses about 0.6 pawns compared with the better move O-O. That is valuable because it tells you what White should not do, and it also helps you understand the critical reply you want to meet. When White delays more actively than needed, you can often use the extra time to finish development and keep the position comfortable.
Results across 13,895,168 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d3 | 3,333,935 | 50.7% |
| d4 | 2,481,979 | 52.6% |
| Nc3 | 2,117,615 | 51.8% |
| O-O | 2,072,349 | 50.7% |
| c3 | 1,918,489 | 53.3% |
| h3 | 1,360,316 | 53.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Italian Game: Paris Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the numbers here are not in your favour. Stockfish gives +0.46, a small edge for White, and the database also shows White scoring better overall in this exact position. If you choose it, you should be ready to defend accurately and play for a solid middlegame.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is O-O. The suggested continuation is O-O Be7 d4 exd4, which shows the kind of calm development Black should aim for. In this position, safety and piece coordination matter more than creating immediate complications.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most-played continuations are d3, d4, Nc3, O-O, c3, and h3. All of these are natural developing moves, so you should be ready for a slow build-up rather than a forced tactical sequence. The drill helps you practise handling those common choices as Black.
Is d3 a good move for White against this setup?
No. In this position, d3 is listed as an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns compared with O-O. That makes it one of the key ideas to recognise in the drill, because it shows which White move you should expect to answer confidently.
How many games feature the Italian Game: Paris Defense?
Over 14 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game: Paris Defense position. White wins 51.5%, Black wins 44.4%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.