ChessThe Philidor Defense is 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6. White's knight attacks e5, but instead of bringing out a knight, Black props up e5 with the d6 pawn. The idea is simple: hold the center first and worry about the rest later. You'll run into it a lot when you play free chess online.
Moves and position
On move two Black plays d6 instead of Nc6:
1. e4 e5the two pawns meet head to head in the center.2. Nf3White's knight attacks e5.2... d6Black's pawn defends e5.
This defense is solid, but it has one drawback: the d6 pawn blocks the bishop on f8, so Black develops more slowly. That's why White usually grabs the center and develops fast.
What White wants
- Push d4 to open the center:
3. d4attacks e5 with a pawn and makes Black decide whether to trade or hold on. - Develop faster than Black: Black's bishop is blocked, so White gets the knights and bishops out quickly and castles early.
- Keep an eye on f7: the bishop goes to c4 to aim at f7. If Black slips up, a checkmate can appear.
What Black wants
- Trade off the center pawn:
3... exd4keeps things simpler, then Black develops slowly. - Hold e5 at all costs: defend e5 layer by layer with Nf6, Nbd7 and Be7. The position is closed but very sturdy.
- Don't rush to pin with the bishop: putting the bishop on g4 too early to pin White's knight often goes badly wrong. The trap below shows why.
Main lines
Exchange Variation: 3. d4 exd4
Black trades the e5 pawn for White's d4 pawn, and the position opens up. White has more of the center. Black's position is a little cramped, but very solid.
Hanham Variation: holding on to e5
Black doesn't trade and holds e5 with the knights and bishop. This setup is very solid, and some books call it the "Lion" setup. Watch the move order: Black usually plays Nf6 first and then Nbd7. Putting the knight on d7 too early can give White a chance to strike.
A common trap: Légal's mate
This is one of the most famous traps in chess history. Black pins White's knight with the bishop too early:
But the knight moves anyway:
If Black greedily takes the queen, it's checkmate:
Show answer
7. Nd5# The knight jumps to d5 with check. Every square around the black king is either covered by White's knights and bishop or blocked by Black's own pieces. There's nowhere to run.
One story says that the 18th-century French player Légal played this game in a Paris café, and that's how it got its name.
So what should Black do after 5. Nxe5? Don't take the queen. Play 5... dxe5 and take the knight instead. But then the white queen takes the bishop on g4, and White is still a pawn up. The real problem is 3... Bg4: the bishop went out too early, and Black's e5 and f7 both became weak. Remember this: when your opponent offers you their queen, first ask why.
Who it suits
- Players who like solid defense: the Philidor rarely turns wild right out of the opening, and Black can set up slowly.
- Players who want to learn traps: you have to know Légal's mate. With White you can use it, and with Black you can avoid it.
- Players who don't want to memorize much theory: there aren't many lines. Just remember "defend e5 with a pawn and develop slowly."
Like Petrov's Defense, it avoids Nc6 after 2. Nf3. Petrov's Defense counterattacks e4 with a knight and is more active; the Philidor Defense holds e5 with d6 and is more passive, but very sturdy.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Philidor?
Philidor was an 18th-century Frenchman. He was a well-known composer and also one of the strongest chess players of his time. His chess book has a famous line: "Pawns are the soul of chess." This opening is named after him.
Does the Légal Trap show up in games between strong players?
Almost never. Strong players know how to avoid it. But it's still common among beginners and in fast online games. With Black, just remember "don't pin the knight on f3 with your bishop too early" and you won't fall for it.
As White, what's the simplest way to play against the Philidor?
Play 3. d4 to open the center, then quickly bring out your knights and bishops and castle. Black develops slowly, so if White just goes step by step, it's easy to get the more comfortable position.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Philidor Defense position, and try grabbing the center with 3. d4. To see other openings, go back to the openings guide. For more checkmates that come out of the opening, read about chess tactics. For a change of pace, go back to the free chess games home page.
Play this opening against the computer