How do you crush the Philidor Defense?

Nice resource Got intrigued by the opening as one of my friends prefers it (and plays it a lot), so I created a tournament to see what people come up with.

Feel free to join me here: https://www.chess.com/tournament/fiddlers-philidor-defence

I have played the philidor many times and is good enough to say that you cannot crush the philidor. I won many otb games with the philidor.

do not try to bust blacks' play , a good philidor player will punish you severely if you try to push for more than a modest advantage.

develop normally, aim for an early d4, but dont release the tension between d4 and e5 too early, castle kingside, my preferred tweak to dealing with philidor, is to play a4-b3-ba3 (a4 stops the b5 push black often wants) while keeping a tight grip on the d5 square. For example, a queen on d2 rook and d1 and bishop on a3 puts a lot of pressure on d6, if this isnt sufficient, consider playing nf3 to h4 and then maybe f5, sometimes with a g3 thrown in (to protect the knight when its on h4 of the e7 bishop). if black stops nf5 you can still aim for f4! pawn thrust with counterplay.

They key is to play patiently, and build up momentum in your position. Philidor's defense (the Parham structure e5,d6 c6 be7-nf6 nbd7 qc7 0-0) gives black a good 10-15 moves of free play, and such players are used to white impatiently trying to get some big edge. But after those initial moves, if white plays prophylactic-ally, and builds up pressure slowly ,blacks position becomes a modest zugswang almost. Philidor players rarely encounter play more patient than theirs! take advantage and develop ideally before you open up the position. 

Why don't you ask phillidor that?

Grob

Anyone else think this sounds like it's written by AI ?

Had this game and reinforced my central d4 push in the opening with c3 (in anticipation of employing simple Ponziani/Italian tactical systems against f7). Later lines, especially with lower rated players, tend to go into Scotch-like positions after e4 e5 Nf3 d6 d4 exd4 Bc4... if d5, then the bishop drops back to b3 and white is more than fine, in fact threatening c4 to completely liquidate the center and claim a lead in development.

In this miniature game (19 moves), black played 3. ... h6?, which I thought was too slow for black. The move 4... Qe7 blocks the development of the dark-squared bishop. Because of this move, black left their kingside pieces untouched, which forced the king to castle the other way. White's pieces were perfectly placed to overpower the king.

It seems like the positional flexibility of the Philidor is one of it's greatest strengths, and I think it is easy for white to opt for central expansion and simple development of the pieces (with future tactics in mind of course). If black fails to come up with an attacking plan against white and seize the initiative, they will succumb to white's development and space advantage.

Against 3.c3, I would play Nf6 as Black.

I think 3…Nf6 would have to be a critical line.

The move c3 hurts whites ability to defend the e4 pawn.

The normal move Nc3 is usually how white defends the e4 pawn and with the pawn move c3. The Knight is unable to defend e4 making White position very awkward.

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If White plays move like d3 in response to Nf6, It makes White position look very passive and Black should gain equality fairly easy I would think.

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If White plays Queen or Bishop move, Black might aim to take advantage of the awkward placement of the White pieces.

For Example:

Qc2 defends e4 pawn and places Queen on C file while at same time threatening d4.

I think I would play c5 in response to a Qc2 move with the idea of trading off C pawn and placing a Rook on c8 down road to gain tempo in Queen on c2.

This isn’t an immediate threat, but it is a long term tempo gain which Black could try based on how they placed their Queen.

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Alternatively, White could try to play Bd3 to defend e4. I think I would play Be6 in response because it would jump on the diagonal which is generally a very powerful one.

Only concern I would have is Ng5 type of move trying to attack & trade off bishop on e6. Doesn’t seem like it would work, but maybe it worth considering.

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Yeah, I don’t have a lot of faith in 3.c3.

I think White best move is 3.d4.

Than Black has to decide between 2 critical lines.

3…Nbd7 which is the HamHan variation

- Most people don’t play this variation with the Classical move order. They use Pirc Move order to disguise the line into a slightly favorable position.

The Classical move order reveals Black intentions and allows white to immediately respond with 4.Bc4 which is the most testing move in this position.

The Chess Theory for that line is extreme, but required in order not to get crushed.

The alternative line played against 3.d4 is 3…exd4 which is the Exchange variation.

It is a lot easier to play. I think White has small edge due to exchange, but I think over time with good play from Black. I think Black can equalize.

I haven’t found a line where White can stay better forever. Black position seems to solid.