C41

Philidor Defense

44 named lines in this family, ECO C41. Every one of them opens 1. e4, so that move's note is written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. e4

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.

Main line, through 2... d6C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6

In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds e5.

• 1... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5. Theory calls this the Philidor Defense.

Main line, after 3. d4, through 3. d4C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Main line, after 3. Bc4, through 3. Bc4C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4

Exchange Variation, through 3... exd4C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.

Hanham VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7

Lopez CountergambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 f5

Main line, after 3. Bc4, through 3... Be7C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7

Nimzowitsch Variation, through 3... Nf6C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6

Philidor CountergambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5

Philidor GambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bd7

Bird GambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. c3

Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

Exchange Variation, after 4. Nxd4, through 4. Nxd4C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4

Morphy GambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4

Nimzowitsch Variation, after 4. dxe5C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5

White has doubled pawns on the e-file.

Nimzowitsch Variation, Klein VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bc4

Nimzowitsch, Locock VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Ng5

Philidor Countergambit, Zukertort VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. Nc3

Steinitz VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7 4. c3

Albin-Blackburne GambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Nd7

White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Boden VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Bd7

Exchange Variation, after 4. Nxd4, through 4... Nf6C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6

Hanham Variation, Sharp VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 Nb6

Larsen VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6

Lion VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7

Hanham Variation, Delmar VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. c3

Hanham Variation, Krause VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O

Hanham Variation, Schlechter VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nc3

Hanham, Kmoch VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. Ng5

Lion Variation, Shirov GambitC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Ngf6 5. g4

Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5

Nimzowitsch Variation, Sokolsky VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Nbd2

Paulsen AttackC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. exd5

The structure hands Black the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Hanham Variation, Steiner VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 c6 5. O-O Be7 6. dxe5

Lion Variation, Bishop SacrificeC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. Bxf7+

The structure hands Black the half-open f-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Lopez Countergambit, Jaenisch VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. Bc4 exd4 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. Nxh7

Philidor Countergambit, del Rio AttackC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Bc4 and h6C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O h6

Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c6C41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Be2 Be7 6. O-O c6

Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop SacrificeC41

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. Bc4 Be7 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Bxf7+

The d-file is fully open.

• 1... d6 Theory calls this the Pirc Defense.
• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

Nimzowitsch, Larobok VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. Ng5 O-O 7. Bxf7+

Philidor Countergambit, Berger VariationC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 f5 4. dxe5 fxe4 5. Ng5 d5 6. e6 Bc5 7. Nc3

Lion Variation, Forcing LineC41

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. Ng5 O-O 7. Bxf7+ Rxf7 8. Ne6

Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.

Lion Variation, Sozin VariationC41

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qe2 c6 8. a4 exd4

Black's pawn on f7 is pinned against the king.

Berger VariationC41

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

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