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

Black takes on d4, defusing the central tension. This is the mainline continuation.

White now recaptures, usually with the knight 4. Nxd4. Recapturing with the queen 4. Qxd4 is playable but allows Black to develop Nc6 with tempo.

Having resolved the issue of e5, Black must now concentrate on developing their pieces lest they fall too far behind White. This typically means Black plays Be7, Nf6, and castles short. Alternatives to try and solve the problem of the f8 bishop―g7 to fianchetto (the Larsen variation) or d5 exd5 Qxd5 (the Paulsen attack)―have been tried but are probably too slow.

Against the mainline, White may proceed Nc3 and either Be2, intending to castle short, or Bf4 and Qd2 to castle long.

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

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

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Wikipedia has related information at Philidor Defence

Bibliography

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

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• 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.

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