Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Philidor Defence
Hold the e5 pawn with ...d6, learn the main lines for both sides and the trap that catches ...Nd7.
The idea
Black holds e5 with a pawn on d6: solid, but a little cramped.
- The pawn on d6 guards e5, so Black keeps a pawn in the centre.
- The bishop on f8 is shut in and can only go to e7.
- White strikes with d4, and Black holds e5 or takes on d4.
In a game: Bring the g8 knight to f6 before the other knight goes to d7, or f7 can fall.
How the lesson begins
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3, the move 2...d6 is the Philidor Defence. It is named after François-André Danican Philidor, the strongest player of the 18th century. The pawn on d6 protects the pawn on e5, so Black keeps a pawn in the centre.
The price is space. Among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, White scores 52% after 2...d6.
Find the move
White to move. Black’s set-up is solid. Strike at the centre with a pawn, so that the pawn on e5 is attacked twice.
A hint
Use the d-pawn.
Show the answer
3. d4
3.d4 is best. Now the pawn on d4 and the knight on f3 both attack e5. Look at the bishop on f8: it has only one move, so Black’s game is a little cramped. After 3.d4 White scores 53% at 1200 to 1599.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | 19 |
| 800 to 1199 | 29 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 33 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 22 |
| 2000 and up | 8.8 |
How the games ended
White won 50%, 4% were drawn and Black won 45%, over 46,951 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.