Philidor Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 · C41
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
The bishop on f8 is the price
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The idea
Black defends e5 with the d-pawn, keeping the position compact and conceding the bishop on f8 a passive but extremely solid role.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O
What White wants
- Take the centre with d4 and use the extra space
- Play Bc4 and Re1 and probe the passive f8 bishop
- Avoid early trades that relieve Black's cramp
What Black wants
- Build the Hanham setup with ...Nbd7, ...Be7 and ...O-O
- Free the game with ...exd4 and ...d5 or ...c5
- Trade pieces and reach a resilient, slightly passive endgame
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
The bishop on f8 is the price
The d6 pawn protects e5 but blocks the f8 bishop's diagonal toward c5. Black usually develops that bishop to e7 in the Hanham setup, then seeks a central break. The defence is compact, but careful move order still matters because White can open the centre with d4.
Common mistake
Maintaining the compact pawn chain at the expense of all activity. Black needs a timely ...exd4, ...d5 or ...c5 break; simply shuffling behind d6 and e5 lets White improve every piece without having to answer a threat.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bq1rk1/pppnbppp/3p1n2/4p3/2BPP3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 7 7
Analyze this positionVariations
2 lines branching from here.
Traps in this opening
Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.
All opening traps