Chess Openings Lab
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Italian Game: Paris Defense

The Paris Defense is 3...d6, where Black supports e5 with a pawn before developing the kingside pieces. White can build a center with c3 and d4 or open lines at once, while Black aims for a solid, Philidor-like setup with ...Be7, ...Nf6 and castling.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6
ECO
C50
Engine
+0.48 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
15,990 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play c3 and then Qb3, hitting f7 and b7 together before Black has castled.
  • Push d4 to open the center; after ...exd4 Nxd4 White has more space and faster development.
  • Castle and add Nc3, then use the d4 and e4 pawn pair to cramp the f8 bishop.
  • If Black plays ...Nh6 to cover f7, consider Bxh6 to break up the kingside pawns.

Black

  • Develop the dark-squared bishop with ...Be7 first so the king can castle quickly.
  • Protect f7 against the Qb3 and Bc4 battery with ...Nh6, ...O-O or ...Qd7.
  • After d4 exd4 Nxd4, play ...Nf6 and ...O-O and look for ...Re8 and ...Bf8.
  • Keep e5 as long as you can; it is the anchor of the whole setup.

Plans and pawn structure

The ...d6 pawn holds e5 but blocks the f8 bishop, so Black's position is solid and a bit cramped. White's central plans are c3 and d4 or a quick d4 and Nxd4, gaining space. Black castles short and either holds the center or trades on d4 and plays against e4 with ...Nf6 and ...Re8. If White uses Qb3, the f7 square is the point, and Black must cover it before anything else.

Where the engine's main line heads: Central tension: d4 and e4 against e5. Central tension: d4 and e4 against e5. One capture changes the character of the game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.48: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.48 4.c3 Be7 5.Qb3 Nh6 6.d4 O-O
  2. +0.39 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Be7
  3. +0.39 4.O-O Be7 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

15,990 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.7%.

under 120054.2%
1200–159952.8%
1600–199951.8%
2000 and up51.4%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As White, play c3 and Qb3 or simply d4 and Nxd4. Keep the c4 bishop aimed at f7 and develop with Nc3 and O-O. Avoid quiet d3 setups: Black is happy with a slow game where ...d6 costs nothing and the f8 bishop has time to come out.

Questions

What are the moves of the Italian Game: Paris Defense?

The Italian Game: Paris Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 d6. Its ECO code is C50.

Is the Italian Game: Paris Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.48 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 15,990 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.7%. A sturdy but passive choice for Black that suits players who dislike early tactics, while White gets an easy space edge.

What is the main idea of the Italian Game: Paris Defense?

Black props up e5 with ...d6 and develops with ...Be7 and ...Nf6. White takes space with c3 and d4 or opens the center with d4 and Nxd4, and pressure on f7 is a recurring theme.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c3, with d4 and O-O close behind. 4.c3 prepares d4 and Qb3, so f7 becomes a target before Black can castle.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.