What is the Philidor Defence?

The Philidor Defence is a chess opening with a rich history and distinct strategic ideas. ChessTerra has 175 instructional videos covering every aspect of the Philidor Defence, from move-order basics to grandmaster-level theory.

How do I learn the Philidor Defence?

The best way to learn the Philidor Defence is to study instructional videos from strong players and grandmasters. ChessTerra provides 175 free videos on the Philidor Defence, organised by skill level from beginner to GM level.

Is the Philidor Defence good for beginners?

Many players learn the Philidor Defence at the beginner level because its core ideas are accessible and widely applicable. ChessTerra has beginner, intermediate, and advanced video collections to suit any level.

What are the main variations of the Philidor Defence?

The Philidor Defence has several important variations and sub-lines. ChessTerra's video library covers all major lines, with dedicated opening guide articles for in-depth study.

Which grandmasters play the Philidor Defence?

Many world-class grandmasters have championed the Philidor Defence throughout history and at the modern elite level. ChessTerra's 175 videos include games and analysis from GothamChess, Hikaru Nakamura, Agadmator, Daniel Naroditsky, and more.

Philidor Defence Chess Videos

Opening: Philidor Defence

175 videos tagged with this opening · Browse all chess openings

ECO C41You play Black

Defining moves1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6

Main line1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.Ng5 O-O 7.Bxf7 Rxf7 8.Ne6

Opening Trainer

Play the Philidor Defence as Black. The bot answers with real book replies.

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Key variations

Philidor Defense 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4
Nimzowitsch Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6
Exchange Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4
Hanham Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7
Lion Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7
Philidor Countergambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5
Hanham Variation, Krause Variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6 5.O-O
Philidor Countergambit, del Rio Attack 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 f5 4.dxe5 fxe4 5.Ng5 d5 6.e6