Attacking the Philidor Defense

This much maligned opening gets the bad rap. Sure enough in the RHP games explorer, white wins rather overwhelmingly from this position with black to move:

domination of the white squares is what occurs to me.

Argh, I suppose I've gone and made another thread on openings. Was looking at some Philidor's after seeing again the Morphy Opera game, wondering about ways to not lose so much time in developing for black. It looks like the problem is moving the c8 bishop to g4? Knights first, and get ready to castle instead maybe better...

This position looks pretty playable to me for black.

Or how about this crazy idea?

Originally posted by Exuma
What is the secret to white's success?

Remember Philidor players,

It's always a good idea to pin the knight with early with Bg4.

peace and love,

1.e4

Originally posted by Thabtos
Remember Philidor players,

It's always a good idea to pin the knight with early with Bg4.

peace and love,

1.e4

It is an OK opening The Pihilidor I keep forgetting I know this opening..
It is one of those I have an excellent score with as Black.

You really have to feel sorry for this guy, Sepia Tint, he came so close.

Sepia Tint - truthinpositions. RHP 2007

Aron Nimzovich analyzed this opening a lot in My System. He liked to put the f8 Bishop back on f8 after castling but without necessarily fianchettoing.

Originally posted by Exuma
Argh, I suppose I've gone and made another thread on openings. Was looking at some Philidor's after seeing again the Morphy Opera game, wondering about ways to not lose so much time in developing for black. It looks like the problem is moving the c8 bishop to g4? Knights first, and get ready to castle instead maybe better...

This position looks pretty pl ...[text shortened]... or black.

[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bc4 O-O 7. O-O[/pgn]

Originally posted by greenpawn34
It is an OK opening The Pihilidor I keep forgetting I know this opening..
It is one of those I have an excellent score with as Black.

You really have to feel sorry for this guy, Sepia Tint, he came so close.

Sepia Tint - truthinpositions. RHP 2007

[pgn]
[Event "August 2007 Octet VIII 1650+"]
[Site "http://www.timeforchess.com"]
[Date "2007.0 f6 Qxb5 {if 15....QxQ then 16.Bxd7 is mate} 16. Qxb5 gxf6 17. Qxd7[/pgn]

Originally posted by Exuma
Or how about this crazy idea?

[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nc6 4. d5 Nce7 5. Bb5+ c6 6. dxc6 bxc6 7. Ba4 f5[/pgn]

Now black is looking at Nf6, threatens Qa5, or Ba6 messing with the white castle. Still I find the f8 bishop slow to get out - I guess g6 and fianchetto for him. Still a nice big center looks possible no?

Originally posted by greenpawn34
It is an OK opening The Pihilidor I keep forgetting I know this opening..
It is one of those I have an excellent score with as Black.

You really have to feel sorry for this guy, Sepia Tint, he came so close.

Sepia Tint - truthinpositions. RHP 2007

[pgn]
[Event "August 2007 Octet VIII 1650+"]
[Site "http://www.timeforchess.com"]
[Date "2007.0 ...[text shortened]... f6 Qxb5 {if 15....QxQ then 16.Bxd7 is mate} 16. Qxb5 gxf6 17. Qxd7[/pgn]

Hi Mephisto

My note in the game '14....Qe6 is the Morphy game.'

That is what I meant when I said:

"You really have to feel sorry for this guy, Sepia Tint, he came so close. "

He nearly reproduced the Morphy game move per move.
He has come the closest on the RHP DB so far.

Shame. I bet the lad was gutted as there is a strong chance he knew
the game. Most Chess players do.

Oops!n didn't see the note. Yes, I guess most experienced players here on RHP know the Morphy game. I think it has appeared in several threads before as well.