The Philidor Defense is a distinctive opening in chess in response to the King’s Pawn Opening (Open Game), named after the 18th-century player François-André Danican Philidor.
It is characterized by a unique move order and a notable emphasis on maintaining a solid, albeit passive, defensive structure.
This article will delve into the nuances of this interesting chess opening, focusing on its move order, theory, strategy, and variations, its historical significance, its appropriateness for beginners and intermediates, and its prevalence at the grandmaster level.
Move Order of the Philidor Defense
The Philidor Defense is marked by the initial moves 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6.
The opening is distinctive because it allows Black to solidify their position early in the game, focusing on the defense of the e5 pawn.
This move order is somewhat unique, in that Black doesn’t immediately develop their knights, which is common in most other openings.
Theory, Strategy, and Purpose of the Philidor Defense
The theory behind the Philidor Defense is based on maintaining a solid pawn structure and fortifying the center of the board.
By doing this, Black aims to challenge White’s control of the center and limit their options for aggressive play.
The main purpose of the Philidor Defense is to allow Black to develop their pieces harmoniously while maintaining a solid defensive posture.
This strategy can provide Black with a solid foundation for the middle and endgame, even if it may seem somewhat passive at the start.
Variations of Philidor’s Defense
There are several notable variations within the Philidor Defense.
One of the main lines involves 3. d4, where White immediately challenges Black in the center.
Another well-known variation is the Hanham Variation, characterized by a setup involving …Nd7, …Be7, and …c6.
The Philidor Countergambit with 3…f5 is another notable variation, providing a more aggressive alternative for Black.
Each variation provides Black with different strategic options and potential routes to navigate through the game.
Let’s go over the main lines and variations:
Philidor Main Line: 3. d4
3…exd4
This is the Exchange variation of the Philidor’s defense.
The game could continue 4.Qxd4 (capturing with the queen is the main line), after which black can play Nc6 attacking the white queen and forcing it to move again, 4…Nc6 5. Bb5, pinning the knight and preparing to castle.
Nimzowitsch Variation of the Philidor Defense
The Nimzowitsch Variation of the Philidor Defense is characterized by the moves:
- 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3, or
- 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 exd4 5.Nxd4
It can also transpose into a Scotch Game if black plays 5…Nc6:
Hanham Variation
The Hanham Variation is characterized by the moves 3…Nd7 and later …Nf6 and …Be7.
It provides a solid if somewhat passive setup for black.
One possible line is 3…Nd7 4. Bc4 (developing the bishop and preparing to castle) Be7 (preparing to castle) 5.O-O (White castles kingside).
Philidor Countergambit: 3…f5
This is an aggressive line that aims to challenge White’s control of the center right away.
After 4.exf5 (White usually takes the offered pawn), Black could continue with 4…Bxf5 and then aim to quickly develop the pieces with moves like Nf6 and Be7.
3…Bg4?!
This move is considered slightly dubious as it allows white to gain an advantage through 4.h3 Bh5 5.g4, after which Black’s bishop becomes a target.
Nevertheless, it is playable at the amateur level.
In terms of 3rd move alternatives for White
- 3.Bc4: This move threatens to establish a strong pawn center with d2-d4, or sometimes White might prefer a quieter setup with d2-d3. If Black plays 3…Nc6, the game could transpose into the Italian game. On the other hand, 3…f5 introduces the Lopez Countergambit, which leads to dynamic and complex positions.
- 3.c3: With this move, White aims to push d4 to establish a strong center. Black can respond with 3…f5 which initiates a tactical melee. If Black plays 3…Nc6, after 4.d4 we transpose into the Ponziani Opening.
Please note that the above explanations are a high-level overview, and the evaluation of the positions can change dramatically depending on the exact moves chosen by both players.
Evaluation of the Philidor Defense
The Philidor Defense is generally evaluated at around +0.70 to +0.95 for white.
Theory & Continuation Lines of the Philidor Defense
Below we have some common theory and continuation lines from the Philidor Defense starting move order 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 that you would see at the highest level of play.
3. d4 is considered the best reply to Philidor’s Defense.
3. Bc4 is also viable and retains white’s edge but isn’t as objectively strong (usually evaluated as +0.25 to +0.45 for white).
We’ll include lines of each.
3. d4
3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bf4 O-O 7. Qd2 c6 8. f3 d5 9. O-O-O dxe4 10. Bc4 Bc5 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. fxe4 Bg4 13. Nf5 Qxd2+ 14. Rxd2 b5 15. Bb3 Na6 16. a3
3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bf4 O-O 7. Qd2 c6 8. f3 d5 9. O-O-O dxe4 10. h4 Re8 11. h5 h6 12. Bc4 Bc5 13. fxe4 Nxe4
3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Be7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bf4 O-O 7. Qd2 c6 8. O-O-O d5 9. f3 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. fxe4 Nd7 12. Nf5 Bf6
3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bf4 O-O 7. Qd2 Nc6 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Be6 10. f3 a6 11. g4 b5 12. Qd2 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bd7 15. h4 c5 16. g5 Bb5 17. h5 Bxf1 18. Rdxf1 a5
3. Bc4
3… Nf6 4. Nc3 Be6 5. Bxe6 fxe6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Qd7 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Rxd4 h6 12. Bd2 e5 13. Rd3 O-O 14. a4 c6 15. Rd1 Qe6 16. Kb1 a6
3… Nf6 4. Nc3 Be6 5. Bxe6 fxe6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Qd7 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Rxd4 h6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. Rhd1 e5 14. R4d3 c6 15. R1d2 b5 16. Bxf6 Rxf6 17. Nd1 a5 18. Ne3 a4 19. a3 Bf8 20. Kb1 Qb7 21. Nf5
3… Nf6 4. Nc3 Be6 5. Bxe6 fxe6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Qd7 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Rxd4 h6 12. Bh4 O-O 13. Rhd1 e5 14. R4d3 c6 15. Kb1 Qe6 16. f3 b5 17. Bxf6 Rxf6 18. R1d2 Rd8 19. Nd1
3… Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. a3 Re8 9. Ba2 h6 10. Bf4 Bf8 11. Re1 Nbd7 12. Bg3 Nc5 13. f3 Qb6 14. Qd2 Be6 15. Nxe6
Introduction to the Philidor Defense
History of Philidor’s Defense
Named after the famous French chess player François-André Danican Philidor, the Philidor Defense has been part of the chess lexicon since the 18th century.
Philidor advocated this opening as an alternative to the common 2…Nc6.
The Philidor Defense reached its peak popularity in the 19th century but declined as positional play evolved.
Nevertheless, the Philidor Defense is featured in one of the most famous games in history, “The Opera Game,” played in 1858.
Is the Philidor Defense Good for Beginners or Intermediates?
The Philidor Defense is considered a good opening for beginners and intermediate players due to its simplicity and defensive nature.
It allows players to develop a solid understanding of positional play, pawn structures, and defensive strategy.
It may not offer the most aggressive playstyle, but the principles it encourages, such as piece development and pawn structure, are fundamental to the game of chess.
How Often Is Philidor’s Defense Played at the Grandmaster Level?
The Philidor Defense is seldom seen in top-level play in the current era, primarily due to its passive nature and the more aggressive, tactical style favored by many grandmasters in rapid, blitz, and bullet chess.
Naturally, it’s rarely seen in classical time controls.
Despite this, a few grandmasters have experimented with the Philidor Defense.
Players like Étienne Bacrot and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu have incorporated the Philidor Defense into their repertoire.
Although not a common sight, the Philidor Defense remains a viable strategy, particularly in rapid, blitz, and bullet chess.
Example Games of the Philidor Defense
Opera Game: Paul Morphy vs. Karl II, Duke of Brunswick & Comte Isouard de Vauvenargues
- e4 e5
- Nf3 d6
- d4 Bg4
- dxe5 Bxf3
- Qxf3 dxe5
- Bc4 Nf6
- Qb3 Qe7
- Nc3 c6
- Bg5 b5
- Nxb5 cxb5
- Bxb5+ Nbd7
- 0-0-0 Rd8
- Rxd7 Rxd7
- Rd1 Qe6
- Bxd7+ Nxd7
- Qb8+ Nxb8
- Rd8#
Bobby Fischer demonstrated this game from the 6:55-minute mark of this video on the Dick Cavett Show in 1972:
Stockfish 15 vs. Stockfish 12
This game started with a Philidor Defense before transposing into a Scotch Game:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. Be3 Bf8 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. Rad1 c6 12. Rfe1 Bd7 13. a4 Ng6 14. f3 a6 15. Bf1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 Ne5 18. Nb3 h6 19. Bd4 Nh5 20. f4 Nc4 21. Qf2 Nb2 22. Ra1 Na4 23. Be2 Nf6 24. Bd3 Ng4 25. Qd2 c5 26. bxc5 dxc5 27. Nxa4 bxa4 28. Nxc5 Bc6 29. Qc3 Nf6 30. Qc4 Rc8 31. Nxa4 Bxe4 32. Bb6 Qd7 33. Qd4 Qc6 34. Bxe4 Nxe4 35. c4 Bb4 36. Red1 Rb8 37. Rdb1 Bd2 38. Rf1 h5 39. Ra2 Rb7 40. Raa1 h4 41. Rf3 Rd7 42. Qb2 Qxc4 43. Qb3 Qc6 44. Rd3 Rxd3 45. Qxd3 Bxf4 46. Kh1 h3 47. Qxh3 Be5 48. Rb1 Qxa4 49. Bg1 Qc6 50. Qf3 Re6 51. Rd1 Bd6 52. Bd4 Rh6 53. Be3 Rxh2+ 54. Kg1 Rh4 55. g3 Bxg3 56. Rd8+ Kh7 57. Qf5+ Qg6 58. Qxg6+ Kxg6 59. Rd7 Rg4 60. Kf1 f6 61. Rd5 Be5 62. Ba7 Kf5 63. Ra5 Rg3 64. Bd4 g5 65. Bb2 g4 66. Bxe5 fxe5 67. Ra7 Rf3+ 68. Kg2 Rf2+ 69. Kg1 g3 70. Rf7+ Kg4 71. Rxf2 gxf2+ 72. Kf1 Kg5 73. Kg2 Kf4 74. Kf1 Ke3 75. Kg2 Ke2 76. Kh2 Kf3 77. Kh3 f1=Q+ 78. Kh4 Qh1#
FAQs – Philidor Defense
1. What is the Philidor Defense in chess?
The Philidor Defense is a chess opening that starts with the moves:
- e4 e5
- Nf3 d6
It is named after François-André Danican Philidor, an 18th-century player, who advocated it as an alternative to the common 2…Nc6.
Philidor’s original intention was to challenge White’s center with the pawn thrust …f7–f5.
The opening offers Black a solid but relatively passive position. The Encyclopedia of Chess Openings code for Philidor Defense is C41.
2. Why is the Philidor Defense considered a good choice for amateur players?
The Philidor Defense is considered a good choice for amateur players because it allows Black to aim for a robust defensive strategy.
Unlike some other openings like the French Defense, the resulting positions are simpler and easier to understand.
Black’s plan of play is often quite straightforward, making it a suitable choice for players still familiarizing themselves with the complexities of chess strategy.
3. What is the history and use of the Philidor Defense?
The Philidor Defense found its way into one of the most famous games in history, “The Opera Game,” played in 1858.
As positional play developed, its popularity declined, and by World War I, it had almost entirely vanished from top-tier chess.
However, it has seen some revival in recent years, particularly in rapid, blitz, and bullet chess formats.
4. What are the typical strategies for Black in the Philidor Defense?
Black’s primary goal in the Philidor Defense is to establish a solid defensive position.
This typically involves careful development of pieces and maintaining central pawn tension.
The most common black response to white’s 3.d4 is 3…exd4, which relieves the central tension but concedes the center.
Alternatively, Black can play the Hanham Variation, which seeks to maintain the pawn on e5 and develop pieces with …Nd7, …Be7, and …c6.
5. What is the Hanham Variation in the Philidor Defense?
The Hanham Variation, named after the American chess master James Moore Hanham, is a strategy where Black maintains the central tension and adopts a setup with …Nd7, …Be7, and …c6.
The main goal is to maintain the pawn on e5.
The Hanham Variation can be reached after 3…Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0.
6. Can Black aggressively counter the Philidor Defense?
Yes, after 3.d4, Black can opt for the aggressive Philidor Countergambit with 3…f5.
This was Philidor’s original intention and can lead to more open positions, albeit it’s often considered dubious.
This line can result in more complex positions and is recommended for players who are comfortable with sharp, tactical play.
7. What are some famous games that featured the Philidor Defense?
The most famous game featuring the Philidor Defense is “The Opera Game” from 1858, where American chess master Paul Morphy played against Duke Karl of Brunswick and Count Isouard.
Although the Philidor Defense is not frequently employed in top-level play today, it has been experimented with by players such as Étienne Bacrot and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu.
8. Why is the Philidor Defense considered passive?
The Philidor Defense is often seen as passive because Black does not immediately challenge White’s control of the center.
Instead, Black focuses on setting up a solid defensive structure, often resulting in less aggressive and more closed positions.
However, correct play can allow Black to gradually challenge White’s center and strive for counterplay.
9. How has the Philidor Defense evolved over time?
While the Philidor Defense was initially considered an active choice by François-André Danican Philidor, who aimed to counter White’s center, it has since evolved into a more passive setup.
It declined in popularity as positional play developed and other more aggressive defenses became prevalent.
Recently, however, there has been renewed interest in the Philidor Defense, especially in faster time controls, and some new variations and lines have been explored.
10. Is the Philidor Defense a good choice against a strong player?
Choosing an opening often depends on personal preference, familiarity, and the style of the opponent.
The Philidor Defense, with its solid structure and relatively straightforward plans, can be effective against strong players if you are comfortable with its themes and typical positions.
However, it’s worth noting that the Philidor Defense is not as aggressively challenging as some other defenses, and it may allow a strong player to comfortably establish control.
As always in chess, good understanding and correct play are essential, regardless of the opening chosen.
Conclusion
The Philidor Defense embodies a timeless, classical approach to chess strategy, emphasizing a solid structure and a well-fortified center.
While it may not be the most aggressive or commonly used opening at the top levels, it offers invaluable lessons in positional play and defense that are relevant for players of all skill levels.
Whether one is a beginner seeking to understand chess fundamentals or an intermediate player exploring different strategies, the Philidor Defense remains a fascinating area of chess theory to explore.