Chess Openings Lab
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Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit

The Lopez Countergambit is 3.Bc4 f5, where Black hits e4 with the f-pawn while the c4 bishop already aims at the weakened a2-g8 diagonal. White punishes with 4.d4 and Ng5, while Black hopes to open the f-file and get active play.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5
ECO
C41
Engine
+2.08 · a large advantage for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,169 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play 4.d4 to open the center, then Ng5 to hit e6 and f7.
  • Push d5 to shut out Black's light squares and gain space, as the top engine line does.
  • Against 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Qh4, use Bf7+ to drive the king and keep the initiative.
  • Take on f5 and castle quickly if you want a simpler, still favorable game.

Black

  • After 4.d4 play ...Nc6 and ...Nh6 to protect f7 and e6.
  • Use ...f4 to gain space on the kingside once d5 has closed the center.
  • Do not open the f-file while your king is in the center.
  • After 4.exf5 Bxf5, castle quickly and develop with ...Be7.

Plans and pawn structure

This countergambit leaves Black's light squares weak. White plays d4, Ng5, d5 and h4, attacking e6 and f7 and sometimes trading on h6. With a locked center, White has space and Black's pieces are cramped. Black tries to use ...f4 and ...g5 for kingside play, but development lags. White's pieces stay active and Black's king stays exposed.

Where the engine's main line heads: Locked center: d5–e4 against d6–e5. A locked center: White's d5 and e4 against Black's d6 and e5. The game moves to the wings, where each side attacks where its pawns point.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +2.08: a large advantage for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +2.08 4.d4 Nc6 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.d5 f4
  2. +1.71 4.Nc3 fxe4 5.Nxe5 Qh4 6.Bf7+ Kd8
  3. +1.15 4.exf5 Bxf5 5.O-O Be7 6.d4 e4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,169 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.9%.

under 120048.6%
1200–159956.7%
1600–199954.1%
2000 and up52.4%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, play 4.d4 and then Ng5 to hit f7 and e6. Do not take on f5 if it opens lines for Black's pieces. Push d5 when it closes the center and exploits the light squares. Castle short and use the bishop on c4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit?

The Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5. Its ECO code is C41.

Is the Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +2.08 at depth 20, which is a large advantage for White. In 1,169 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.9%. A dubious gambit that only works in fast games, while White needs to know the d4 and Ng5 plan.

What is the main idea of the Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit?

Black plays ...f5 while White's bishop already sits on c4, weakening e6 and f7. White replies with d4 and Ng5, gaining a lasting edge.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with Nc3 and exf5 close behind. 4.d4 opens the center at once and prepares Ng5 against f7 and e6.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.