Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › King's Knight Opening › Philidor Defense › Philidor Defense › Nimzowitsch Variation › Philidor Defense: Lion Variation
C41

Philidor Defense: Lion Variation

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Overview

Philidor Defense: Lion Variation is a named branch in the Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO C41.

The Open Games group covers open games — classical 1.e4 e5 openings where both sides contest the centre directly with pawns.

It is reached after 8 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

4 named variations grow from this line, including Bishop Sacrifice, Lion's Claw, with Bc4 and h6, Lion's Claw, with Be2 and c6, and others.

In total, the branch covers 5 sub-variations across all depths.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
C41
Group
Open Games (C)
Plies
8
Parent
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
Direct variations
4
Total in subtree
5

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.

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Variations (4)

Show all 5 sub-variations (full subtree)