Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, Berger Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
388 games: White 50.5% / Draw 3.9% / Black 45.6%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 205205 | ||
| 137137 | ||
| 2525 | ||
| 1313 | ||
| 33 | ||
| 22 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 11 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 22, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.84 White is better
Best play: 7... Nf6 8. Nf7 Qe7 9. Nxh8 Bxe6 10. Be3 a6 11. Bxc5 Qxc5 12. Ne2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, Berger Variation (ECO C41, Open Games) is a gambit in the Philidor Defense: Philidor Countergambit, del Rio Attack, reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Bc5 7. Nc3 (7 moves).
In 388 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.5%, Black 45.6% and 3.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…c6, in 53% 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: Philidor Countergambit, Berger Variation
The most played answer, 7…c6, also scores best for Black: 51.7%, with Black winning 49.3% and White 45.9% of 205 games. Of the main answers, 7…Qf6 scores lowest: 46.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 7…Nf6.
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: Philidor Countergambit, Berger Variation (C41)”. Lichess data as of 22 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/philidor-defense-philidor-countergambit-berger-variation