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

Philidor Defence
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 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

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


5	6	7	8	9
dxe5 Nxe5	Nxe5 dxe5	Bxf7+ Kxf7	Bb4+ Qd2	Bxd2+ Nxd2	+/-

Philidor Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 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