Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
18,014 games: White 54.0% / Draw 4.9% / Black 41.2%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 13,38113K | ||
| 2,6962,696 | ||
| 868868 | ||
| 436436 | ||
| 379379 | ||
| 5959 | ||
| 4949 | ||
| 3535 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.75 White is better
Best play: 5... Nc5 6. Bg5 Qd7 7. exd6 Bxd6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O-O Nc6 10. Be3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation (ECO C41, Open Games) is a variation of the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5 (5 moves).
In 18,014 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 54.0%, Black 41.2% and 4.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nc5, in 74% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation
The most played answer, 5…Nc5, also scores best for Black: 47.7%, with Black winning 44.9% and White 49.6% of 13K games. Of the main answers, 5…Bf5 scores lowest: 34.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…Nc5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation (C41)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-nimzowitsch-variation-rellstab-variation