Larsen variation of the Philidor

I'm still looking at the Philidor (as Black) but now am intrigued by the Larsen variation as a way to get past the problem of Bg5 pinning the f6-knight (without having to emtomb my bishop at e7):

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 g6

with 5...Bg7 intended.

Any advanced players, Philidor experts, theory mavens, or others with useful comments or analysis to contribute are requested to do so.

Plans? Traps? General assessment?

Ive always hated this opening for black, would be nice to hear what people think.

Originally posted by Mark Adkins
I'm still looking at the Philidor (as Black) but now am intrigued by the Larsen variation as a way to get past the problem of Bg5 pinning the f6-knight (without having to emtomb my bishop at e7):

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 exd4
4. Nxd4 g6

with 5...Bg7 intended.

Any advanced players, Philidor experts, theory mavens, or others with useful comments or analysis to contribute are requested to do so.

Plans? Traps? General assessment?

Originally posted by NorrisB
Ive always hated this opening for black, would be nice to hear what people think.

Up to a certain level, like most openings, it is quite playable, but I always feel that it is like playing a Dragon; only you have all the weakness of the Dragon with very few of the strengths. Maybe someone would be so kind as to put this in the pgn-player thingy for me?! Won't tell you which book it's from 😉

Burnett,Andrew - Robertson,Ian [C41]
Glasgow Open, 1996

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.f3!? Re8 9.g4 Nc6 10.0-0-0 a6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.g5 Nd7?! 13.h4 Qe7 14.h5 Rb8 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Qh2 Nf8 17.f4 Be6 18.Bd4! f6 19.f5! gxf5
20.exf5 Bd5 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Bg2 c6 23.Bf3 fxg5 24.Qh8+! Bxh8 25.Rxh8+ Kf7 26.Bh5+ Ng6 27.Bxg6# 1-0

Here's a game very similar to Streetfighter's at first, but played much more aggressively by Black for queenside counterplay:

Yeah, that's a much more aggressive approach, but look at this...

Acs,Peter (2450) - Biro,Peter (2210) [C41]
HUN-ch sf Budapest (2.1), 1998

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Re8 9.f3 a6 10.h4 b5 11.h5 Nxh5 12.g4 Ng3 13.Rh3 Nxf1 14.Rxf1 c5 15.Nb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Rfh1 Nf6 19.Bg5 h5 20.R3h2 Re5 21.gxh5 gxh5 22.Rg2 Kf8 23.Bxf6 1-0

If black's not hanging around (10...b5) then neither is white 11.h5!)

Originally posted by streetfighter
Yeah, that's a much more aggressive approach, but look at this...

Acs,Peter (2450) - Biro,Peter (2210) [C41]
HUN-ch sf Budapest (2.1), 1998

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Re8 9.f3 a6 10.h4 b5 11.h5 Nxh5 12.g4 Ng3 13.Rh3 Nxf1 14.Rxf1 c5 15.Nb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Rfh1 Nf6 19.Bg5 h5 20.R3h2 Re5 2 ...[text shortened]... 2.Rg2 Kf8 23.Bxf6 1-0

If black's not hanging around (10...b5) then neither is white 11.h5!)

Originally posted by streetfighter
Yeah, that's a much more aggressive approach, but look at this...

Acs,Peter (2450) - Biro,Peter (2210) [C41]
HUN-ch sf Budapest (2.1), 1998

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Re8 9.f3 a6 10.h4 b5 11.h5 Nxh5 12.g4 Ng3 13.Rh3 Nxf1 14.Rxf1 c5 15.Nb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Rfh1 Nf6 19.Bg5 h5 20.R3h2 Re5 2 ...[text shortened]... 2.Rg2 Kf8 23.Bxf6 1-0

If black's not hanging around (10...b5) then neither is white 11.h5!)

Yup, I think you may be right, but that leads us into the area of my own game which I posted first. In any event, we could probably spend all night swapping white/black crushes, but I reckon white has it easier by quite a margin!?

I now play a very interesting idea for white back on move 6. Anyone care to guess the move and what its purpose is??

Originally posted by streetfighter
Yup, I think you may be right, but that leads us into the area of my own game which I posted first. In any event, we could probably spend all night swapping white/black crushes, but I reckon white has it easier by quite a margin!?

I now play a very interesting idea for white back on move 6. Anyone care to guess the move and what its purpose is??

Is the move 6 what Greenpawn? You haven't given a move!
(And thanks by the way)

I mean is your idea here, instead of 6.Be3?

Yes, sorry, me being a bit dim. There's a very interesting practical move here for white instead of Be3.