Philidor Counterattack

The Philidor Counterattack, 2...c6, answers the Bishop's Opening by preparing ...d5. That advance would gain time against the bishop on c4 and give Black a broad pawn center. The idea resembles the Ponziani Opening with colors reversed. Its drawback is timing. Black spends a move on the c-pawn before developing a piece and without putting any pressure on e4, which leaves White free to act in the center first. For this reason the line is playable but uncommon. The same plan reached by delaying ...c6, through 2...Nf6 3. d3 c6 (the Paulsen Defense), tends to serve Black better.

White's most frequent reply is 3. Nf3, which develops while attacking e5. 3. Qf3 and 3. d3 are each chosen in roughly one game in seven. 3. Qf3 lines the queen up with the bishop against f7, while 3. d3 reinforces e4 before ...d5 arrives. The engine prefers 3. Nc3, which adds control of d5, and 3. d4, which opens the center before Black has completed the plan. It rates the position as a slight edge for White. In the Lichess database White scores somewhat better than Black, and draws are rare.