Philidor Defence
Overview
The Philidor Defence is a defense for Black against 1. e4 by putting his pawns on e5 and d6 (to defend the e5 pawn)
The main benefit of playing the Philidor Defence is that it makes it difficult for White to form a good attack right after the opening since Black has very little weaknesses.
By using the d6 pawn to defend e5, Black will not have to support the e5 pawn with much else (like using a minor or major piece). This style of defense creates little weaknesses for Black.
But, Black also blocks in his own bishop on f8 (so it can’t get outside the pawn chain) and accepts having to play in a cramped board position.
The Philidor Defence is also a very tricky opening to play and Black has to deal with a lot of opening traps (all based on attacks on the f7 square).
In this opening, White nearly always takes the opportunity to play the valuable move - pawn to d4.
Black has several options to counter this:
- Defend his pawn.
- Relieve the central tension.
- Counter attack the e4 pawn.
The Philidor Defence can be played in three different ways based on Black’s third move:
- Main line (3. d4)
- The Hanham Variation: 3...Kbd7
- The Exchange Variation: 3...exd4
- The Nimzowitsch Variation: 3...Kf6
How to Reach The Philidor Defence?
- First, White must move the King’s pawn two squares (1.e4).
- Then, Black replies by moving his King’s pawn two squares (1...e5).
- White wants to attack the e5-pawn by moving his Knight three squares (2. Nf3).
- Black defends his e5-pawn by moving the d-pawn one square (2…d6).
Take a look at the moves below:
Why Play The Philidor Defence?
The main benefit of playing the Philidor Defense is that it makes it difficult for White to form a good attack right after the opening since Black has very little weaknesses.
Main Line
In the main line of the Philidor Defense, there are three variations, the Hanham Variation, the Exchange Variation and the Nimzowitsch Variation.
The Hanham variation is a very tricky way to play the Philidor Defence.
By playing the Hanham variation, Black wants to maintain the central tension, avoid all of White’s opening traps and obtain a solid (yet passive) position.
The Exchange Variation is bad because Black gets nothing in return for giving up center control, while in other variations, Black keeps a stronghold over the e5 square or can counter attacks White’s center.
The Nimzowitsch Variation can be a good surprise weapon.
By playing this variation, Black counter attacks the e4 pawn and provokes White to take the e5 pawn. If White takes it, Black can retake the e5 pawn and then, after exd6, recapture it with the bishop.
Every move explained
Opera Game Variation
How To Reach It
The Opera Game Variation of the Philidor Defence appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- Kf3 d6
- d4 Bg4
You can see the moves here:
Why Black Should Never play the Opera Game Variation?
By playing Bg4, Black pins White’s knight to the queen and wants to take the d4 pawn.
Unfortunately, this move leads to the loss of a pawn after 4. dxe5...
Every move explained
Hanham Variation
How To Reach It
The Hanham Variation of the Philidor Defence appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- Kf3 d6
- d4 Nd7
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Hanham Variation?
Instead of surrounding Black’s stronghold on e5 or counter attacking the e4 pawn with Nf6 (The Nimzowitsch Variation), Black wants to defend it with Nd7.
By playing the Hanham variation, Black can avoid all of White’s opening traps and obtain a solid (though passive) position.
White's Moves
Attack the weak f7 square
With the move: 4.Bc4, White wants to play 5.Ng5 and attack the weak f7 square (that only the King defends).
Black can try to stop Black from playing 5.Ng5. But it will not help.
Get the bishop pair advantage
By threatening an attack on f7, White can force an exchange with Black (by trading Queen’s off the board and keeping a bishop pair advantage) while going into an endgame.
This bishop pair advantage should be sufficient to win the respective endgame.
Play a4 and h3
These pawns are perhaps the most important moves in this variation.
The idea: By deriving Black from any counter play, Black has to play in a cramped position, though while strong, forces Black into being only passive.
Black's moves
Get more space on queenside using b7-b5
By playing b7-b5, Black manages to get more space on the Queenside.
Castle Kingside to protect the King
Normally in the Hanham Variation of the Philidor Defence, Black castles kingside to protect his King.
Be careful when putting your Bishop on e7
When you place a bishop on e7, it blocks in it causes the f7 square becoming extremely threatened for attack.
The best thing to do is to castle as soon as possible (to prevent this weakness).
Every move explained
Exchange Variation
How To Reach It
The Exchange Variation of the Philidor Defence appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- Kf3 d6
- d4 exd4
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Exchange Variation?
The Exchange Variation is played by Black to avoid heavy theory and tactical complexity since black exchanges center pawns.
This variation is actually considered a bad option for Black and shouldn’t be played since Black gets nothing in return for giving up control in the center.
White can recapture with either the King’s Knight or Queen and secure ideal development.
White's Moves
Play Qxd4 and pin Black’s Queenside Knight
Black will try and place his Queen’s Knight on c6 to attack the Queen on d4.
When Black does this, White should move his Bishop to b5.
Doing this leaves Black’s knight pinned and can’t attack the Queen anymore, since if it moves, the King is under attack.
Castle Queenside
In the Exchange Variation of the Philidor Defence, White wants to use his development moves 4. Qxd4 5. Nc3 6. Bg5 and castle Queenside to protect his King.
Black's moves
Play a6
By playing a6, Black wants to increase his control over the b5 square, develop his Queen’s Knight and stop White from pinning the Knight to the King.
Achieve a strong defensive position
With these moves, Black simply develops his pieces in order to achieve a strong defensive position.
Nimzowitsch Variation
How To Reach It?
The Nimzowitsch Variation of the Philidor Defence appears on the board after the following moves:
- e4 e5
- Kf3 d6
- d4 Nf6
You can see the moves here:
Why play the Nimzowitsch Variation?
By playing this variation, Black counter attacks the e4 pawn and provokes White to take the e5 pawn. If White takes it, Black can retake the e5 pawn and then, after exd6, recapture it with the bishop.
White's Moves
Take the e5 pawn
With this move, White initiates trading of queens and wins a pawn. Furthermore, Black’s King can no longer castle.
Sacrifice the Bishop
White regains the sacrificed bishop with a winning advantage.
Black's moves
Develop your pieces and sacrifice your pawn
With these moves, Black wants to solidify his defence, provoke White to take the Bishop and sacrifice his c7-d6 pawn. And then, he puts the Knight onto c6 and gets a winning advantage.
Fianchetto the Bishop
In the Nimzowitsch Variation, White sometimes castles Queenside, so Black can fianchetto the bishop to increase his control over the main diagonal.
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