I started playing the piric last year and when i reviewed it stockfish recommended what I'm calling the delayed philidor or i guess the lion, the best thing about it is you can play it against 1 e4 1 d4 the London, the English and pretty much anything and unlike the piric u don't display your intentions with early fianchetto, having lots of bullet success with it right now
Dear Sir Thanks for you UA-cam Channel. I really appreciate the Philidor, for black AND white. I've also studied the DVD of GM Simon Williams : "The Black Lion" (a variation where you don't castle, in order to put all in attack). I like this, but not castling is a bit dangerous, isn't it ? Can you answer some questions ? - Is it possible to play only the Philidor even in tournaments ? (I'm only 1500 elo on Lichess) I'm looking for a unique opening - Do you use also other openings both for white and black (such as Dutch stonewall defense for black and attack for white) ? Thank you very much Best regards, Mark
Fantastic video and fantastic series. I'll probably start recommending this opening as well as your channel to my HS students. Thanks for making this, and good luck growing on UA-cam!
So glad I found your UA-cam channel. I've been playing 1...d6 as a universal opening, but was never comfortable with the Black Lion chaos as described by GingerGM. I prefer a more positional approach and was never quite sure about the overall game plan. You have a gift for making the ideas understandable and logical. Keep posting. (former Hart House chess club member )
@@SLChessDevelopment I graduated in math in 1977. Zvonko Vranesic was the Chess Master who played there at the time and Kevin Spragett was our Canadian superstar GM
Thank you. This has been my main defense as black for a couple years now. I love it so much I play 1..d6 vs everything. If I am white in a match where I know my opponent plays a defense I am bad against I can even play 1.d3 and play this system with reversed colors.
To play it with white you could start with 1.e4 followed by d3. It will be like a KIA but without the fianchetto in g2 and one tempo more that you can use.
@@MartinZanichelli You're right. Since I made this comment I play 1.e4 and an early d3, the timing depends on what black does. vs 1..e6 and 1..c6 I play 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 to avoid a queen trade. Against 1.e4 e5 I play a Ruy Lopez with an early d3 instead of O-O. It's a great system for a player at my level. Only masters have been able to consistently exploit my openings.
Very encouraging video got yourself a sub! Found myself playing philidor defense randomly after getting tired of doing meh with sicilian structures. Came into the mid game with a much more comfortabke structure than usual. The moves came very natural and as you said many opponents especially in intermediate level dont play perfect against it. Got really upset when i tried to find a philidor video for black and found almost nothing... glad i found your channel and the system you recommend. Im sure its gonna improve my plan making and fun in chess since playing meta openings in around 1700 online elo already became kinda frustrating. Thanks a lot keep up the content!
Great video. I LOVE this system and have had some great wins combining this with Ginger GMs 'no castle's ideas launching a kingside pawn storm. Great stuff!
@@SLChessDevelopment quick question if I may...would you still recommend this against 1.d4? I use accelerated QID but I'm lazy and would rather master one black system than be OK ish with 2
@@Onoins425 it’s definitely possible but what rating are you. For beginners or intermediate players, I recommend trying “legit” responses to d4 to experience new openings
Hi Sean. I love your channel. Particularly your videos on the Philidor/Lion Defence. I was playing the Pirc/Pirc set-up, but have moved to your system as it feels more solid and flexible. But I have a question.... On move 7 why is c6 better than a6? C6 supports b5, but blocks the queen Bishop. Isn't it better to play a6 than c6, and therefore leave the Bishop to come to b7 without being blocked by the c pawn? What are your thoughts? And as you recommend c6 and not a6, why is c6 better please? Thanks very much, Daniel
c6 is one of the best moves in many systems in chess. The reason why is quite simple. The c6 square not only helps prepare b5 but it also controls the d5 square which is really important as it stops the opponent's knight from going there, as well as stopping our opponent from moving pawn to d5 as that would trade one of their centre pawns with one of our own. Now, I understand why c6 may seem bad at first as it blocks in the bishop but when we get b5 eventually, the bishop will go the b7 anyways and be happy (the c pawn will usually take back on b5 when the opponent captures us).
Hi Sean. Hope your 2022 is going well so far. I have another question please. I've only been playing chess since April 21. In September I was so happy to find the Colle Zukertort (I love your video on that btw), and I have stuck to the CZ as my opening for white ever since. I love it and it works well for me. I plan to diversify my white opening repertoire in a year or two...... But finding a universal opening system for black that I love even half as much as CZ much is proving tricky. I played The Modern for a while, but it is too challenging for beginners I think. This took me to a Pirc/Pirc type set-up, and I do like this and it's worked quite well. But I feel quite vulnerable playing this and I don't like fianchettoing my King Bishop so early. Somehow I recently found your Philidor Lion videos and so far I am loving this system! So, apart from your awesome videos, would you recommend any other resources for the Philidor Lion? In particular, do you have any book recommendations for it please? Thanks, Daniel
NM Sean don’t take it personal that I humbly criticized the gambit in your delayed alapin video ! I’m learning a great deal from you in those lines and these philidor lines as well. This video is very useful directly and indirectly to some classical lines in the ‘Pirc’, ‘K.I.D’, and even the Russian game especially on the Queenside. Lastly, I will definitely be applying that “ Great Wall “ line to my repertoire ! So thanks Sean , looking forward to more of your content ! 👍
Thanks for this, Sean. I like your upbeat presentation. GM Simon Williams has a video on "crushing the Philidor". He seems to think that a4 by White leads to completely neutralizing black's queenside play, but he doesn't seem to take into account the Wall of China respone to White's a4. Have you seen this video on Chessable? By the way, in the preface to the instruction is that a brief view of the Great Hall in Hart House on the U of T campus? I attended U of T in the late 60's. Played in one tournament there, got crushed, and gave up the game for a long time. I've returned to it in the past few years and am working on improvement. I had started playing the Philidor before finding your videos, and am happy to learn that it can be such a good opening.
Hey, to answer your question about U of T... yes! That was last year while I was arbitering for the Holidays Open. You should play sometime! As for the a4 move... it is quite the hindrance but with the Great Wall setup it leads to equal positions according to computers and especially when played by humans!
@@SLChessDevelopment Yes indeed; on the weekend I tied for 2nd out of 6 players; I won a game playing the Philidor as black, and one as white (i.e. colors reversed)---both games against higher rated players. This and the Old Indian are my go-to openings.
Part two and three are already up! Though they aren’t on what happens later on in the game. If you want to see those, my most recent speed runs should work for you!
@@SLChessDevelopment One huge mistake I made when I was first learning the opening is that after driving the bishop to b3 and the knight back, I then decided to try to trap white's Bishop with a5 he then played a3? which was necessary to protect his bishop from getting stuck, its true purpose was far more nefarious...When I realised my pawn was hanging a lil (only protected by the a5 pawn) I tried to further protect it by making a pawn chain extending from d6 to b4 and a5. By the time I had finished I realized whites pawn on e4 was still hanging and finally decided to capture it and you guessed it... Bishop skewer between my knight on e4 and my rook on a8...there goes my knight as my bishop had not yet developed to b7...Can you please cover how to avoid this trap while sufficiently protecting the pawn on b4?
@@tyrelljeffries2527 Hey Tyrell, I understand the general gist of your dilemma and the solution is quite simple. Have the pawn go to c6 early on and don't move it from there. On c6, it protects b5, protects the d5 square from invasion, is just overall a strong pawn!
I'm happy to have found this opening, and having alot of success, and fun with it. This will be my go to weapon to destroy my opponent. I'm learning to transpose ( hide ) my intentions until they find out it's way to late to run for cover.
Thanks, Sean, I want to give this system a try- it looks like a good all purpose system for black against e4 and d4. Here's a question: what do you recommend after 1.) d4...d6 2.) c4?
Oof, this is one of the most annoying responses after d4 and why it isn’t played at the highest levels but personally, I’ve prepared a lot of different responses with varying degrees of success! You can definitely try e5 immediately and go into a queen less endgame (which is actually fine for you despite not being able to castle as the pawn on c4 is kinda wonky) but personally my favourite is just going into a kings Indian setup with Nf6, g6, Bg7 etc.
Then you're into Old Indian Defense territory. You can create the same Black structure as for the Philidor, with 2....Nf6 followed by... Nbd7,... e5,... Be7, ...c6 etc. There are some good books available onthe Old Indian e.g. The New Old Indian by Chernaiev.
Man you are amazing. I hope you achieve all your goals. This is incredible info I tried to play the philidor before but from your video I saw I made blunders. Cheers!
Hi Sean. I love love love your videos on the Philidor. Thank you for doing them. This is all I play as black now. But I do struggle against the g4 then g5 bayonet attack that you mentioned in this Part 1. You said you were going to do a video on this. But I can't find one. Did you do a video that I somehow can't find? If so can you provide a link for it pretty please? But if you haven't done a video on the g4-g5-bayonet can you do so please? That would be amazing. Or can you at least type a few ideas about how to respond. Thanks buddy 😀
So so kind of you to reply. If you did it's not one of your Philidor Parts 1, 2, 3 or 4. Is it featured in a Philidor Shenanigans video? Ooh, if you come across a video where you do teach it please do let me know. Thanks 😀
Hey man!! If I’m trying to find good Philodor(ish) game from the net who’s games I should look, yours ofcourse;) but can you recommend some older masters? Where did you learn this opening? Thank you.
I actually learned it from my friend who was playing it at the 1900 level in a local tournament. I got interested, learned a way to play against it and won luckily, but realized its potential! As for older masters who played this, there really aren't many that exclusively played it but you can see it here and there, just use the game explorer to find them!
Thank you answering question! I really like your magnificent content. Are you taking a brake for doing vids? Are you going to do the philodor video against h3?
Would you recommend this for beginners/intermediates? In Hikaru Nakamura's beginner tier list Philidor was at the very bottom. Also what are your thoughts on the black lion?
Haha, it broke my heart when I saw that. Now, the Philidor I agree is not good at the very beginner level... at that point I really do recommend the Italian until pieces stop being blundered. For the intermediate levels though, I believe the Philidor/Black Lion is one of the best openings to learn how to get to advanced as you have less emphasis on tactics but instead positional chess! Personally, I feel if you feel stuck at the intermediate level, the Philidor will help develop positional skills you lack and get you to get rid of bad habits from other openings.
@@SLChessDevelopment I agree your logic and reasoning behind it makes sense. And its very interesting, and highly underrated like you said. I really appreciate your content. Im just getting back into chess after a decade off.
Hey SL, nice vids!! Thanks...I have 2 questions: 1) I also play the Philidor BL setup against d4 c4 (e4) setups with Lg2 and Le2 (=Old Indian Defence). What setup do i best use on my queen side; also the great wall (c6 b6 a6) if a4 is set? 2) Can i also effectively play the Old Indian Defence against English opening en KIA? If so, do i keep my focus on the e4 field? Thanks, Bart Belgium
@@SLChessDevelopment Hi Sean...thanks for your reply but i would like to know how to proceed when the actual plan is that white wants to avoid d4 and play a setup like Nc3 Nf3 Bc4 d3 0-0 and so on???
So, what's the difference between Pirc and Philidor or is it just a matter of transposing not much difference between those 2 openings? It's a bit confusing.
I don’t agree choosing an inferior opening gives you an upper hand, at least at 1800+ Fide. A disadvantage, rather. No matter what you play, if you play it all the time, people can prepare. The only way to make sure they don’t gain the upper hand from the opening, is by knowing your opening is objective and computers don’t scream at it. Also, opponents below very advanced level don’t even prep the Sicilian for White.
@@SLChessDevelopment however, I think that Philidor can also be fun, just like Bongcloud or unsound gambits. When I see a high level player doing 1…e5, 2…d6, I immediately think he’s a maniac and maniacs are scarier than opening meme lords
I'm planning on making this my main weapon for black. After three years of playing the French defense I want to play something new. I hope you still are planning to make the video about the scary versions :-)
1:33 The Philidor is 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6. 1 e4 d6 is not the Philidor but the Pirc. Your Lion Defence is 1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nbd7 which lacks the Nf3 and ...e5 of the Philidor.
Do you have any questions about the Philidor Defense? If so, make sure to ask as I am always happy to answer!!!
Khairol Mohd Zainal working on the speed run series right now! But this one will definitely be coming out soon! How do you like this system?
@@meowsterinspire1950 Definitely will also update soon on that part
I started playing the piric last year and when i reviewed it stockfish recommended what I'm calling the delayed philidor or i guess the lion, the best thing about it is you can play it against 1 e4 1 d4 the London, the English and pretty much anything and unlike the piric u don't display your intentions with early fianchetto, having lots of bullet success with it right now
The Philidor Defense was my father's go to opening, he just loved It, so i faced these positions A Lot😆 Good video!👍
Thanks!
Been playing this a while after watching your live games and instructional videos,this would be a great chessable course...
Hahaha, that's a little too professional for me!
Dear Sir
Thanks for you UA-cam Channel.
I really appreciate the Philidor, for black AND white.
I've also studied the DVD of GM Simon Williams : "The Black Lion" (a variation where you don't castle, in order to put all in attack).
I like this, but not castling is a bit dangerous, isn't it ?
Can you answer some questions ?
- Is it possible to play only the Philidor even in tournaments ? (I'm only 1500 elo on Lichess) I'm looking for a unique opening
- Do you use also other openings both for white and black (such as Dutch stonewall defense for black and attack for white) ?
Thank you very much
Best regards,
Mark
Fantastic video and fantastic series. I'll probably start recommending this opening as well as your channel to my HS students. Thanks for making this, and good luck growing on UA-cam!
Thanks and wonderful comment :)
So glad I found your UA-cam channel. I've been playing 1...d6 as a universal opening, but was never comfortable with the Black Lion chaos as described by GingerGM. I prefer a more positional approach and was never quite sure about the overall game plan. You have a gift for making the ideas understandable and logical. Keep posting. (former Hart House chess club member )
Hi Fellow Hart House member :P What years were you at UofT?
@@SLChessDevelopment I graduated in math in 1977. Zvonko Vranesic was the Chess Master who played there at the time and Kevin Spragett was our Canadian superstar GM
Thank you. This has been my main defense as black for a couple years now. I love it so much I play 1..d6 vs everything. If I am white in a match where I know my opponent plays a defense I am bad against I can even play 1.d3 and play this system with reversed colors.
Exactly!
To play it with white you could start with 1.e4 followed by d3. It will be like a KIA but without the fianchetto in g2 and one tempo more that you can use.
@@MartinZanichelli You're right. Since I made this comment I play 1.e4 and an early d3, the timing depends on what black does. vs 1..e6 and 1..c6 I play 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 to avoid a queen trade. Against 1.e4 e5 I play a Ruy Lopez with an early d3 instead of O-O. It's a great system for a player at my level. Only masters have been able to consistently exploit my openings.
Thank you. Clear instructions. Also flexible for people who play the Czech Pirc.
Very encouraging video got yourself a sub! Found myself playing philidor defense randomly after getting tired of doing meh with sicilian structures. Came into the mid game with a much more comfortabke structure than usual. The moves came very natural and as you said many opponents especially in intermediate level dont play perfect against it. Got really upset when i tried to find a philidor video for black and found almost nothing... glad i found your channel and the system you recommend. Im sure its gonna improve my plan making and fun in chess since playing meta openings in around 1700 online elo already became kinda frustrating. Thanks a lot keep up the content!
Thanks for the kind comment. It’s my goal to spread the Philidor Love!
Great video. I LOVE this system and have had some great wins combining this with Ginger GMs 'no castle's ideas launching a kingside pawn storm. Great stuff!
Nice!
@@SLChessDevelopment quick question if I may...would you still recommend this against 1.d4? I use accelerated QID but I'm lazy and would rather master one black system than be OK ish with 2
@@Onoins425 it’s definitely possible but what rating are you. For beginners or intermediate players, I recommend trying “legit” responses to d4 to experience new openings
@@SLChessDevelopment Ah, only intermediate, mate. I will stick with proper ideas for d4 in that case 👍
Hi Sean. I love your channel. Particularly your videos on the Philidor/Lion Defence. I was playing the Pirc/Pirc set-up, but have moved to your system as it feels more solid and flexible. But I have a question.... On move 7 why is c6 better than a6? C6 supports b5, but blocks the queen Bishop. Isn't it better to play a6 than c6, and therefore leave the Bishop to come to b7 without being blocked by the c pawn? What are your thoughts? And as you recommend c6 and not a6, why is c6 better please? Thanks very much, Daniel
c6 is one of the best moves in many systems in chess. The reason why is quite simple. The c6 square not only helps prepare b5 but it also controls the d5 square which is really important as it stops the opponent's knight from going there, as well as stopping our opponent from moving pawn to d5 as that would trade one of their centre pawns with one of our own.
Now, I understand why c6 may seem bad at first as it blocks in the bishop but when we get b5 eventually, the bishop will go the b7 anyways and be happy (the c pawn will usually take back on b5 when the opponent captures us).
@@SLChessDevelopment Thank you very much Sean. This is really helpful. You are an excellent teacher. 👏
Hi Sean. Hope your 2022 is going well so far. I have another question please. I've only been playing chess since April 21. In September I was so happy to find the Colle Zukertort (I love your video on that btw), and I have stuck to the CZ as my opening for white ever since. I love it and it works well for me. I plan to diversify my white opening repertoire in a year or two...... But finding a universal opening system for black that I love even half as much as CZ much is proving tricky. I played The Modern for a while, but it is too challenging for beginners I think. This took me to a Pirc/Pirc type set-up, and I do like this and it's worked quite well. But I feel quite vulnerable playing this and I don't like fianchettoing my King Bishop so early. Somehow I recently found your Philidor Lion videos and so far I am loving this system! So, apart from your awesome videos, would you recommend any other resources for the Philidor Lion? In particular, do you have any book recommendations for it please? Thanks, Daniel
Nakamura: There's other better opening than Philidor Defense.
Also him: *Plays Bongcloud opening and destroys 2900+ GM.
That's because the bongcloud is a top tier opening
NM Sean don’t take it personal that I humbly criticized the gambit in your delayed alapin video ! I’m learning a great deal from you in those lines and these philidor lines as well. This video is very useful directly and indirectly to some classical lines in the ‘Pirc’, ‘K.I.D’, and even the Russian game especially on the Queenside. Lastly, I will definitely be applying that “ Great Wall “ line to my repertoire ! So thanks Sean , looking forward to more of your content ! 👍
Thanks for this, Sean. I like your upbeat presentation. GM Simon Williams has a video on "crushing the Philidor". He seems to think that a4 by White leads to completely neutralizing black's queenside play, but he doesn't seem to take into account the Wall of China respone to White's a4. Have you seen this video on Chessable?
By the way, in the preface to the instruction is that a brief view of the Great Hall in Hart House on the U of T campus? I attended U of T in the late 60's. Played in one tournament there, got crushed, and gave up the game for a long time. I've returned to it in the past few years and am working on improvement. I had started playing the Philidor before finding your videos, and am happy to learn that it can be such a good opening.
Hey, to answer your question about U of T... yes! That was last year while I was arbitering for the Holidays Open. You should play sometime!
As for the a4 move... it is quite the hindrance but with the Great Wall setup it leads to equal positions according to computers and especially when played by humans!
@@SLChessDevelopment Thanks for the invitation, but I live in the U.S. now.
@@edmondzeldin7036 ah, unfortunate! Luckily there’s lots of tournaments still online!
@@SLChessDevelopment Yes indeed; on the weekend I tied for 2nd out of 6 players; I won a game playing the Philidor as black, and one as white (i.e. colors reversed)---both games against higher rated players. This and the Old Indian are my go-to openings.
@@edmondzeldin7036 wow, amazing haha. Playing the reverse Philidor against higher rated opponents definitely requires lots of courage LOL
Loved the video, do a part 2 where the game carries on and an exchange variation vid would be great as well!
Part two and three are already up! Though they aren’t on what happens later on in the game. If you want to see those, my most recent speed runs should work for you!
@@SLChessDevelopment Can you also do a video on common mistakes when playing the Philidor?
@@tyrelljeffries2527 yes!
@@SLChessDevelopment One huge mistake I made when I was first learning the opening is that after driving the bishop to b3 and the knight back, I then decided to try to trap white's Bishop with a5 he then played a3? which was necessary to protect his bishop from getting stuck, its true purpose was far more nefarious...When I realised my pawn was hanging a lil (only protected by the a5 pawn) I tried to further protect it by making a pawn chain extending from d6 to b4 and a5. By the time I had finished I realized whites pawn on e4 was still hanging and finally decided to capture it and you guessed it... Bishop skewer between my knight on e4 and my rook on a8...there goes my knight as my bishop had not yet developed to b7...Can you please cover how to avoid this trap while sufficiently protecting the pawn on b4?
@@tyrelljeffries2527 Hey Tyrell, I understand the general gist of your dilemma and the solution is quite simple. Have the pawn go to c6 early on and don't move it from there. On c6, it protects b5, protects the d5 square from invasion, is just overall a strong pawn!
A great video - thanks! You have a real gift for teaching chess. I am looking forward to the other Philidor videos. I have SUBSCRIBED…thanks again!
Thank you for the kind comment!
I'm happy to have found this opening, and having alot of success, and fun with it. This will be my go to weapon to destroy my opponent. I'm learning to transpose ( hide ) my intentions until they find out it's way to late to run for cover.
Thanks, Sean, I want to give this system a try- it looks like a good all purpose system for black against e4 and d4. Here's a question: what do you recommend after 1.) d4...d6 2.) c4?
Oof, this is one of the most annoying responses after d4 and why it isn’t played at the highest levels but personally, I’ve prepared a lot of different responses with varying degrees of success!
You can definitely try e5 immediately and go into a queen less endgame (which is actually fine for you despite not being able to castle as the pawn on c4 is kinda wonky) but personally my favourite is just going into a kings Indian setup with Nf6, g6, Bg7 etc.
I recommend going for c6, Nbd7 then e5 anyway. this system is flexible with Qe7 or even Qa5 in mind
@@mohamadawad2305 that’s why I love the Philidor!
Then you're into Old Indian Defense territory. You can create the same Black structure as for the Philidor, with 2....Nf6 followed by... Nbd7,... e5,... Be7, ...c6 etc. There are some good books available onthe Old Indian e.g. The New Old Indian by Chernaiev.
@@edmondzeldin7036 Hahaha, I'll c heck them out. Haven't read many chess books and could use the recommendations!
Man you are amazing. I hope you achieve all your goals. This is incredible info I tried to play the philidor before but from your video I saw I made blunders. Cheers!
Great video. Would you do if white plays d5 on the 5th move in response to your e5 on your fourth move.
Hi Sean that was great and just what I was looking for so thank you. Do you have a pgn of the opening variations please?
Hi Sean. I love love love your videos on the Philidor. Thank you for doing them. This is all I play as black now. But I do struggle against the g4 then g5 bayonet attack that you mentioned in this Part 1. You said you were going to do a video on this. But I can't find one. Did you do a video that I somehow can't find? If so can you provide a link for it pretty please? But if you haven't done a video on the g4-g5-bayonet can you do so please? That would be amazing. Or can you at least type a few ideas about how to respond. Thanks buddy 😀
I'm 99% sure I did, but if I have not I will definitely do it. I have a wonderful game I played against an IM and did very well with it!
However, the main idea is that you just need to play h6 when g4 is played and Nf9, Ng6 maneuverer and you are golden
So so kind of you to reply. If you did it's not one of your Philidor Parts 1, 2, 3 or 4. Is it featured in a Philidor Shenanigans video? Ooh, if you come across a video where you do teach it please do let me know. Thanks 😀
And thanks for the tips 😁. But you wrote Nf9!! Which coordinate did you mean? 🤣
@@Daniel-G-P nF8!
thanks for explaining the plans in black lion 🦁 !! do you also have games in black lion?... I would like to see the middlegame ideas in games.
Very well explained
Thank you
Hey man!!
If I’m trying to find good Philodor(ish) game from the net who’s games I should look, yours ofcourse;) but can you recommend some older masters? Where did you learn this opening?
Thank you.
I actually learned it from my friend who was playing it at the 1900 level in a local tournament. I got interested, learned a way to play against it and won luckily, but realized its potential!
As for older masters who played this, there really aren't many that exclusively played it but you can see it here and there, just use the game explorer to find them!
Thank you answering question!
I really like your magnificent content.
Are you taking a brake for doing vids?
Are you going to do the philodor video against h3?
Oh, lo siento. I found the video for h3!! Nice.
Would you recommend this for beginners/intermediates? In Hikaru Nakamura's beginner tier list Philidor was at the very bottom. Also what are your thoughts on the black lion?
Haha, it broke my heart when I saw that. Now, the Philidor I agree is not good at the very beginner level... at that point I really do recommend the Italian until pieces stop being blundered. For the intermediate levels though, I believe the Philidor/Black Lion is one of the best openings to learn how to get to advanced as you have less emphasis on tactics but instead positional chess!
Personally, I feel if you feel stuck at the intermediate level, the Philidor will help develop positional skills you lack and get you to get rid of bad habits from other openings.
@@SLChessDevelopment I agree your logic and reasoning behind it makes sense. And its very interesting, and highly underrated like you said. I really appreciate your content. Im just getting back into chess after a decade off.
Hey SL, nice vids!! Thanks...I have 2 questions:
1) I also play the Philidor BL setup against d4 c4 (e4) setups with Lg2 and Le2 (=Old Indian Defence). What setup do i best use on my queen side; also the great wall (c6 b6 a6) if a4 is set?
2) Can i also effectively play the Old Indian Defence against English opening en KIA? If so, do i keep my focus on the e4 field?
Thanks, Bart Belgium
I'd recommend two good books on the Old Indian: Play d6 Against Everything, and Sidestepping Mainline Theory.
@sl chess development
hi Sean...can you suggest how to deal with White's 2nd move f4? an early reply would be greatly appreciated...thank u
My other video looks over this, ua-cam.com/video/aDp2MfDXwzE/v-deo.html
@@SLChessDevelopment Hi Sean...thanks for your reply but i would like to know how to proceed when the actual plan is that white wants to avoid d4 and play a setup like Nc3 Nf3 Bc4 d3 0-0 and so on???
Great video! At 9:02 what does black respond with if white plays e5? Keep up the good work 👍
Do u think the black lion is playable in classical time controls? Or shall we stick with the lion def
Both are playable even at the GM level. Perhaps not Super GM level but low GM level still played a lot
how about :
e4 d6
Bc4 the bowdler attack
is philidors set up
is ok to use against bowdler
attack ?? make a video NM lei pls
I’ll take a look
What do you do are dxe5? Just wondering
I love this opening
Same!
Can you recommend a good recent book or video course that deals with this opening when black plays 3.Nd7?
So, what's the difference between Pirc and Philidor or is it just a matter of transposing not much difference between those 2 openings? It's a bit confusing.
Hi, how would you play the d4 opening in the Philidor?
Hey, it can be done, but don’t recommend it at the beginner / intermediate level.
@@SLChessDevelopment Thanks. I appreciate it a lot. I would be interested in a video against d4 at a higher level.
Do you also play 3...c6 instead of Nbd7
Personally don’t like it
Great vid.
Thank you for the kind comment
I play the pirc, watching this feels like I just bought an expansion pack to the game.
LOL
LOL
Perfect! Man you should have just told me to shut up and come watch this video 😝 You deserve many views my friend.
Hahaha
I don’t agree choosing an inferior opening gives you an upper hand, at least at 1800+ Fide. A disadvantage, rather. No matter what you play, if you play it all the time, people can prepare. The only way to make sure they don’t gain the upper hand from the opening, is by knowing your opening is objective and computers don’t scream at it. Also, opponents below very advanced level don’t even prep the Sicilian for White.
For sure!
@@SLChessDevelopment however, I think that Philidor can also be fun, just like Bongcloud or unsound gambits. When I see a high level player doing 1…e5, 2…d6, I immediately think he’s a maniac and maniacs are scarier than opening meme lords
great
Thanks
So difficult to counter 😢
My favourite
@@SLChessDevelopment haha
I wont play the philidor but i'll check some attacking lines for white :P
g4 variations are most promising for you!
Nice ❤
Best opening :D
If you know you know :)
I was excited about the Philidor and Lion defense, until he showed the last scary variation
Is this pirc
What if he doesn’t move the bishop to that location
Depends on what he does there’s a different response though where specifically are you asking?
The light squared bishop is you move it to like d3 or d2 right away
Bc you can’t go for crab
I'm planning on making this my main weapon for black. After three years of playing the French defense I want to play something new. I hope you still are planning to make the video about the scary versions :-)
Definitely will!
1:33 The Philidor is 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 d6. 1 e4 d6 is not the Philidor but the Pirc. Your Lion Defence is 1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 Nbd7 which lacks the Nf3 and ...e5 of the Philidor.
The Lion Philidor has been destroyed with Shirov's powerful g4!
Funny .. I am pretty sure Philidor Defense is : e4-e5, f3-d6 and not what ever it was that you showed us
The way I teach it transitions it from the Pirc to the Philidor Defence! It's the better move order this way in my opinion
Lets play philidor
Haha, I could do a series on it, and most people are wanting it as well!
Yeah haha everyone would love that
You show the old Indian in this video
Too much talking