Caissa Codex
C41

Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit, Jaenisch Variation

Chess diagram: Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit, Jaenisch Variation after 6. Nxh7

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Statistics from Lichess

20 games: White 60.0% / Draw 5.0% / Black 35.0%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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22
11
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

0.00 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... Ng4 7. Ng5 Qf6 8. Bf7+ Kd8 9. Bb3 Rh5 10. h3 fxe4 11. Nxe4

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

Overview

Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit, Jaenisch Variation (ECO C41, Open Games) is a gambit in the Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. Bc4 exd4 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxh7 (6 moves).

In 20 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 60.0%, Black 35.0% and 5.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…Rxh7, in 80% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. Bc4 exd4 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxh7, the position after Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Philidor Defense: Lopez Countergambit, Jaenisch Variation (C41)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-lopez-countergambit-jaenisch-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-lopez-countergambit-jaenisch-variation