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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...Nd7/4. Bc4/4...Ngf6

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. e4 | 1...e5 | 2. Nf3 | 2...d6 | 3. d4 | 3...Nd7 | 4. Bc4
The latest reviewed version was checked on 11 May 2022. There is 1 pending change awaiting review.
Philidor Defence
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black knighte7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black pawne6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white bishopd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

r1bqkb1r/pppn1ppp/3p1n2/4p3/2BPP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w

Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7 4. Bc4 Ngf6

4...Ngf6

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Like in 3...Be7?, this natural move loses a pawn, though not instantly. 4...exd4 and then only followed by Ngf6 is preferable. The only move that wins a pawn is 5. dxe5. The Hanham variation with 3...Nd7?! is full of traps, which is why 3..Ngf6 is more common. The simplest move order can lead to catastrophe.

Theory table

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5 6 7 8 9
dxe5

Nxe5

Nxe5

dxe5

Bxf7+

Kxf7

Bb4+

Qd2

Bxd2+

Nxd2

+/-
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