Theoria
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Philidor Defense

Lion Variation, Lion's Claw, with Bc4 and h6

C41solidpositional

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3d6
  3. 3.d4Nf6
  4. 4.Nc3Nbd7
  5. 5.Bc4Be7
  6. 6.O-Oh6
583 games43%52%

A Lion Variation line of the Philidor Defense in which Black answers Bc4 and O-O with 6...h6, covering g5 and keeping the central tension.

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About the with Bc4 and h6

This branch of the Lion's Claw complex arises after 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O h6. Black spends a tempo to keep White's knight and bishop off g5, ruling out Ng5 ideas against f7 before committing the king. White most often answers with 7. dxe5 or 7. Re1, and 7. h3 is a less frequent choice. Engines give White a slight edge, yet Black has scored better in online games.

Popular continuations