Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c6

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Be2 Be7 6.O-O c6

ECO C41

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c6 is a chess opening line in the Philidor Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Be2 Be7 6.O-O c6.

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

The defining move c6 is chosen by Black on move 6.

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.