The Old Philidor Defense for Black + PGN November 7, 2025

Course Structure and Features

The repertoire is organized across 11 chapters, each addressing a specific White system:

• Chapter 1: 6.Be3 and other 6th move sidelines
• Chapter 2: 6.Bd3 (positional approach)
• Chapters 3-4: 6.Be2 (solid system)
• Chapter 5: 6.g3 (featuring the punishing 6…d5! 7.e5 Ng4 8.Bg2 Nxe5 9.Nxd5 Bg4! 10.Qd2 Bh3! that has caught numerous grandmasters)
• Chapters 6-7: 6.Bf4 main lines (the critical test)
• Chapter 8: 5.Bd3 (White plays without Nc3)
• Chapter 9: 4.Qxd4 (popular but harmless)
• Chapter 10: 4.Bc4 and 4.c3 gambit attempts
• Chapter 11: The superior endgame after 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8