Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...exd4/4. Nxd4

Philidor Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppp2ppp/3p4/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4

Philidor Defence: Exchange Variation 4. Nxd4

Overview

In the Exchange Variation of the Philidor Defense, Black opts to relieve the central tension immediately with 3...exd4. This move captures White's d4 pawn with Black's e5 pawn. In response, White has the option to recapture the pawn on d4. The most logical recapture is with the knight, 4. Nxd4, positioning the knight centrally.

After White recaptures with the knight, Black has a popular move, 4...Nf6, which targets White's e4 pawn. To defend this pawn, White often develops another piece, the queen's knight, to c3 with 5. Nc3.

An interesting alternative for Black after 4. Nxd4 is the move 4...c5. This puts immediate pressure on the centralized white knight. White would need to decide how to respond, either by relocating the attacked knight or creating a counter-threat elsewhere on the board.

The Exchange Variation with Nxd4 in the Philidor Defense leads to rich positional play. Black relieves central tension early on, but the resulting positions offer ample opportunities for both sides to create imbalances and fight for an advantage.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

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

	4	5	6	7	8	9
Exchange Variation 4. Nxd4	Nxd4 Nf6	Nc3 Be7	Bc4 O-O	O-O Nxe4!	Nxe4 d5!	Bd3 dxe4	=
	... ....	... ...	Bf4 O-O	Be2 Nc6	O-O Re8		=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	... ...	Qd2 Nxd4	Qxd4	+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	... Re8	Qd2 Nc6	O-O-O	+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	Qd2! d5	Ndb5 Bb4	O-O-O	+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	... Nc6	O-O-O Nxd4	Qxd4	+/=
	... ....	... ...	Be2 O-O	Bf4 Re8	Qd2		+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	O-O Re8	f4		+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	... ...	Re1		+/=
	... ....	... ...	g3 d5	e5 Ng4	Bg2 Nxe5	Qe2	+/=
	... ....	... ...	... O-O	Bg2 Re8	O-O		+/=
	... ....	... ...	... ...	... ...	... O-O	O-O	+/=
	... ....	... ...	... O-O	Bg2 Re8	O-O Bf8	h3	+/=
	... Nc6						=
	... c5	Nf3 Nc6	Nc3 Be7	Bf4! Nf6	Qd2 Be6	Ng5!	+/=

References

Bibliography

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Kaufman, Larry (2004). The Chess Advantage in Black and White. ISBN 0-8129-3571-3.
• Panov, Vasily (1973). Teoría de Aperturas, Tomo I: Aperturas Abiertas - Aperturas Semiabiertas. ISBN 84-270-0132-0.
• Schiller, Eric (2002). Standard Chess Openings. ISBN 1-58042-048-6.

External links

• ChessBase (2023). Philidor Defence.
• Chess Openings for Beginners (2009). Philidor Defense: General Information.
• ChessPathways (2019). PHILIDOR DEFENSE.
• ChessPathways (2019). The Philidor Defense.
• Chess Simplified (2019). Philidor Defence.
• HangingPawns (2019). Introduction to the Philidor Defense.
• Marsh, Sean (ChessAble) (2021). Chess Opening Basics: The Philidor Defense.
• Prem, Krishna (2012). Chess openings - Philidor Defence.
• The Chess Website (2012). Philidor Defense - Chess Openings.
• Solomon, Ruddell (TheChessGiant) (2021). Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Philidor Defense!.