Caissa Codex
C41

Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit

Chess diagram: Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit after 4…Nd7

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Statistics from Lichess

90,219 games: White 44.4% / Draw 4.7% / Black 51.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
77,15177K
3,9793,979
2,4422,442
2,2052,205
1,9361,936
1,0021,002
604604
376376

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.17 White is better

Best play: 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. Be2 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Ngf6 8. g3 O-O 9. O-O Re8

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit (ECO C41, Open Games) is a gambit in the Philidor Defense, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Nd7 (4 moves).

In 90,219 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.4%, Black 51.0% and 4.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. exd6, in 86% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…Bg4 4. dxe5 Nd7, the position after Philidor Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Philidor Defense: Albin-Blackburne Gambit (C41)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-albin-blackburne-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-albin-blackburne-gambit