Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5

ECO B07

The Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave is a chess opening line in the Lion Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5.

It is catalogued under code B07 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move e5 is chosen by Black on move 4.

One named continuation branches from this position: the Lion Claw Gambit.

Named variations

• Lion Defense: Anti-Philidor, Lion's Cave, Lion Claw Gambit — ECO B07

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat The Pirc course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.