Theoria
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Philidor Defense

Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation

C41positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3d6
  3. 3.d4Nf6
  4. 4.dxe5Nxe4
  5. 5.Qd5
294 games54%43%

Philidor Defense line in which White answers 4...Nxe4 with 5. Qd5, harassing the knight and often heading for a queenless middlegame with a small edge.

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About the Rellstab Variation

The Rellstab Variation meets 4...Nxe4 with 5. Qd5, which attacks the knight and prevents ...d5 from supporting it. It is a more ambitious try than 5. exd6 Bxd6. Black usually retreats with 5...Nc5, and 5...Bf5 is the main alternative. After 5...Nc5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Nc3 Qxd5 9. Nxd5 Bd6 10. O-O-O the queens are off, and White keeps a slight edge because Black is behind in development. The desperado 5...Nxf2 scores poorly.

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