Philidor Defense Guide
The Philidor Defense is a chess opening for Black that begins with the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6. This defense, which has existed for hundreds of years, aims to avoid the extremely popular Ruy Lopez and Italian Game. Although it is rarely played at the master level today, the Philidor Defense remains a viable option for Black to combat 1.e4.
Plans in the Philidor Defense
The Philidor Defense is a solid but somewhat passive opening for Black.
The main objective is to build a solid center, avoid the most studied openings, and eventually play expansion moves like c5.
The Philidor Defense has the advantage of being easy to study and master.
The plans in the Philidor are concrete and solid.
One of the biggest disadvantages of the Philidor Defense is that the dark-squared bishop gets trapped by the d6 pawn.
Most Popular Line in the Philidor Defense
The most played line of the Philidor Defense is as follows:
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 d6
After 2...d6, we are in the Philidor Defense.
3.d4 exd4
White develops their other central pawn, while Black decides to capture it.
4.Nxd4 Nf6
Natural development of the pieces.
5.Nc3 Be7
Both sides continue developing their pieces.
6.Be2 O-O
White plays their bishop passively. Black castles quickly.
7.O-O Re8
8.f4 Bf8
Attacking the e4 pawn.
9.Bf3 c5
Black forces the white knight out of a central square.
10.Nb3 Nc6
The development of pieces for both sides is now almost complete.
Philidor Defense Main Line
The main line of the Philidor Defense is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4.
Now, let's look at some ways to continue for both sides.
First, there's the standard continuation, which we covered in the previous section.
Then we have the Paulsen Attack, where instead of playing 4...Nf6, Black decides to advance their pawn one more square to d5.
The Paulsen Attack continues with 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Qe2+ Be7 7.Nb5 Na6 8.N1c3 Qe6.
Another way for White to handle the main line is through a fianchetto on g3 after move 6.
Here, the sequence of moves would be:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7
6.g3 O-O 7.Bg2 Re8 8.O-O Bf8
Hanham Variation
In the Hanham Variation, Black plays 3...Nd7.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7
This variation involves waiting moves and a counterattack on the queenside.
Watch this video by FM Zaur Tekeyev on the Hanham Variation:
Steinitz Variation
In the Steinitz Variation of the Philidor Defense, White quickly develops their bishop to c4 and follows up with c3.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.c3
Philidor Countergambit
The Philidor Countergambit is one of the original lines of this opening, though it has fallen out of favor today.
It is played as follows: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 f5
3…Bg4 Variation
This is a surprising and rare variation that Black can use to throw off their opponent.
It is played as follows: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4
Model Games
Related Courses
Philidor Defense Hanham Variation with IM Zaur Tekeyev
Other Chess Articles
Petrov's Defense Guide
Queen's Gambit Declined
Master the Ruy Lopez
C41 Sub-variants:
- Philidor's defence
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 - Philidor, Steinitz variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. c3 - Philidor, Lopez counter-gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 f5 - Philidor, Lopez counter-gambit, Jaenisch variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 f5 4. d4 exd4 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxh7 - Philidor's defence
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 - Philidor, Philidor counter-gambit
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 - Philidor, Philidor counter-gambit, del Rio attack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 - Philidor, Philidor counter-gambit, Berger variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Bc5 7. Nc3 - Philidor, Philidor counter-gambit, Zukertort variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. Nc3 - Philidor, exchange variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 - Philidor, Boden variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 - Philidor, exchange variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 - Philidor, Paulsen attack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5 - Philidor, exchange variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 - Philidor, Berger variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Re1 - Philidor, Larsen variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6 - Philidor, Nimzovich (Jaenisch) variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 - Philidor, Improved Hanham variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Sozin variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qe2 c6 8. a4 exd4 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Larobok variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. Ng5 O-O 7. Bxf7+ - Philidor, Nimzovich variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Sokolsky variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Nbd2 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Rellstab variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Locock variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Ng5 - Philidor, Nimzovich, Klein variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bc4 - Philidor, Hanham variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 - Philidor, Hanham, Krause variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O - Philidor, Hanham, Steiner variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O Be7 6. dxe5 - Philidor, Hanham, Kmoch variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Ng5 - Philidor, Hanham, Berger variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. f4 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 d5 - Philidor, Hanham, Schlechter variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nc3 - Philidor, Hanham, Delmar variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. c3
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