Paris Defense

The Paris Defense, 3...d6, meets the Italian Game by supporting e5 with a pawn instead of developing another piece. It is also called the Semi-Italian Opening, the Half Giuoco Piano and the Lesser Giuoco Piano, and it can be reached from the Philidor Defense by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nc6. Compared with the Philidor, the knight on c6 already protects e5, so Black avoids the early pressure on that pawn. The price is that the dark-squared bishop is locked in behind the d6 and e5 pawns, and White has more space. ECO files it under C50, together with the other third moves apart from 3...Bc5 and 3...Nf6.

Black's usual plan resembles the Hungarian Defense, but with an early ...Bg4. The pin on the f3-knight weakens White's hold on d4, the square White needs for a central break. The structure is close to the Philidor. Black keeps a firm point on e5 and develops behind it, while White tries to use the extra space and the bishop aimed at f7.

The most common reply is the quiet 4. d3, followed by 4. d4 and 4. O-O. The engine prefers 4. d4, which challenges the center at once before Black can set up the ...Bg4 pin, and it gives White a slight edge. I. A. Horowitz judged the defense solid but probably not quite enough for equality. In online play White scores a little better, and draws are rare.

Alexander Alekhine played the line early in his career. Rodzinski vs. Alekhine, Paris 1913, shows the tactical risks around the pinned knight and the exposed b7-pawn: 4. c3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qd7 6. Ng5 Nh6 7. Nxf7 Nxf7 8. Bxf7+ Qxf7 9. Qxb7 Kd7 10. Qxa8 Qc4 11. f3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nd4 13. d3 Qxd3 14. cxd4 Be7 15. Qxh8 Bh4#. White collected both rooks while Black's remaining pieces converged on the king. Alekhine noted that 6. Bxf7+ instead leads to a perpetual check for Black, and that 13. cxd4 Qxc1+ would also have left Black clearly better.