Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.g4

ECO C41

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit is a chess opening line in the Philidor Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Nc3 Ngf6 5.g4.

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

The defining move g4 is chosen by White on move 5.

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Shirov Gambit is a line of the Philidor Defense. The Philidor Defense is a chess opening that begins 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6. Read the complete Philidor Defense guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

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.