Philidor Defense

The main line

The Philidor Defense is reached by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 (ECO C41). It's one of 44 named lines under this opening in the book.

Named variations (17)

• Lion Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 (C41)
• Hanham Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 (C41)
• Nimzowitsch Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 (C41)
• Philidor Countergambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 (C41)
• Exchange Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 (C41)
• Lopez Countergambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 f5 (C41)
• Nimzowitsch — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Ng5 (C41)
• Philidor Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bd7 (C41)
• Bird Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3 (C41)
• Steinitz Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. c3 (C41)
• Morphy Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 (C41)
• Albin-Blackburne Gambit — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Nd7 (C41)
• Larsen Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6 (C41)
• Boden Variation — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7 (C41)
• Hanham — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Ng5 (C41)
• Paulsen Attack — 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5 (C41)
• 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 (C41)

Analyze the Philidor Defense

Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.

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