Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop Sacrifice

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+

ECO C41

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Delayed Bishop Sacrifice is a chess opening line in the Philidor Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Bxf7+.

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

The defining move Bxf7+ is chosen by White on move 7.

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.