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1.Opening

Philidor Defense

You play BlackC41SolidBeginner

Defend e5 with a pawn and build a compact position. Simple ideas, little theory.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 …

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Exchange Variation: position after 8 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Exchange Variation: position after 8 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. ...d6 defends e5 solidly, but blocks the f8 bishop.
  2. After ...exd4, Black gets open lines for the pieces.
  3. Typical setup: ...Nf6, ...Be7, ...O-O, then ...d5 or ...Re8.
3.Main line

Main line · 15 moves

Exchange Variation

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4White grabs the center.
e5Black mirrors.
2
Nf3White attacks e5.
d6The Philidor: defends e5 with a pawn.
3
d4White challenges the center.
exd4Black gives up the center to open lines for the pieces.
After 3…exd4
After 3…exd4
No. White Black4
Nxd4White recaptures.
Nf6Develops and attacks e4.
5
Nc3White defends e4.
Be7Prepares to castle.
6
Bf4White develops, pressuring d6.
O-OBlack castles.
After 6…O-O
After 6…O-O
No. White Black7
Qd2White prepares to castle long.
a6Stops Nb5, which would attack d6 and c7.
8
O-O-OWhite castles long. Black plays ...d5 or ...Re8 and attacks on the queenside.
After 8.O-O-O
After 8.O-O-O
4.Play

Practice mode

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5.More

More defenses against 1.e4