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    Chess Openings

    Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation

    1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3 · ECO C23

    Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation position after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3. White: bishop on c4, pawn on e4, pawn on c3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on d2, pawn on f2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, knight on g1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, knight on g8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, bishop on c5, pawn on e5.

    Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3. It is classified C23 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has black to move. The Bishop's Opening develops the bishop to c4 before the king's knight, aiming at f7 immediately and keeping f4 available. It frequently transposes into the Vienna Game or the Italian, so it functions as much as a move-order device as an independent opening.

    Strategic character

    Flexible and transpositional. It sidesteps the Petrov entirely, which is one of its main practical attractions for 1.e4 players tired of that defence.

    Who should play it

    Players who want to reach Italian and Vienna structures while avoiding specific defences by move order.

    This line is a variation within the Bishop's Opening family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3.

    Variations continuing from this position

    Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3. Open any of them to load the position on the board.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation?
    The Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3. It is classified C23 in the ECO system. The Bishop's Opening develops the bishop to c4 before the king's knight, aiming at f7 immediately and keeping f4 available. It frequently transposes into the Vienna Game or the Italian, so it functions as much as a move-order device as an independent opening.
    What are the moves of the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation?
    1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.c3. After these moves it is black to move.
    Is the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation good for beginners?
    Players who want to reach Italian and Vienna structures while avoiding specific defences by move order.
    What variations come from the Bishop's Opening: Philidor Variation?
    Named continuations include Bishop's Opening: del Rio Variation, Bishop's Opening: Lewis Countergambit, Bishop's Opening: Lewis Countergambit, Walker Variation, Bishop's Opening: Pratt Variation. There are 4 named variations reachable from this position in total.

    Study this opening