Philidor Defense: Lion Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7

ECO C41

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation is a chess opening line in the Philidor Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7.

It is catalogued under code C41 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Nbd7 is chosen by Black on move 4.

7 named continuations branch from this position, including the Bishop Sacrifice and the Delayed Bishop Sacrifice.

Named variations

• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Bishop Sacrifice — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop Sacrifice — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Forcing Line — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Bc4 and h6 — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c6 — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit — ECO C41
• Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Sozin Variation — ECO C41

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.