Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Sozin Variation

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Qe2 c6 8.a4 exd4

ECO C41

The Philidor Defense: Lion Variation, Sozin Variation is a chess opening line in the Philidor Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Qe2 c6 8.a4 exd4.

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

The defining move exd4 is chosen by Black on move 8.

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.