the philidor defence
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One of the openings I am interested in is the philidor defence. Is it sound? Thanks for you help in advance!
My understanding is that the most solid variation of the Philidor is the Improved Hanham (with knights on f6 and Nd7 and pawns on e5 and d6) and that the best way to get there isn't by starting 1.e5 but rather the pirc move order... 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 (stopping f4) 4.Nf3 Nbd7. If you play 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6, most players will play dxe5 Nxe4 and white wins a lot of those games. If you play 3.Nbd7, IIRC, black has a ton of traps to watch out for in those lines. So if you do want that setup, consider starting with d6, 2Nf6 3.e5 4.Nbd7.
if u want to improve, thats not the best way.
Why not developing your pieces on active square, giving them space?
2...Nc6 (Petroff's 2...Nf6 is a good alternative) makes the job, rather than Philidor which will only give u painful games...
It is of course a good opening, but for good players having experience, and some skills.
Here are some online games (time control 3 0) I played yesterday and tomorrow with white against Philidor, just to show u how it can be painful for black :
Of course, black's play is not very good in these games (i missed some improvments too, especially in the second game).
But it was just to give u an idea of what can happen : no counterplay for black who seem in each game fighting/hoping for a draw and no more.
U want this in your game? I wouldn't... 
The move order is very important (except if black tries the exchange philidor with exd4 which gives white good piece placement on centre), Comeaux gave the good one but it is not really natural and for your level, for every level, play what seems to you natural.
2...d6 seems natural to you, fine, try it, give it a chance, maybe u will like it, but 2...Nc6 is more interesting and more instructive...
Thanks to all!
I will consider your advice
I have a question, as a philidor player, i play it because of its uncommon nature, and closed and positional style. However I play Hanham. What is the point of exchange philidor?
Doesn't 2...Nc6 just invite 3.d5 and a tempo on the knight?
I used to play Philidor in the past, but eventually was a bit disappointed with it. As IM poucin said, it is very passive, and it leads to pretty painful games in which black has serious problems with development. It is hard for white to crack the position, but it definitely isn't the opening black would use if he seriously intended to equalize the game.
With e4 d6 ideas, I would look into Pirc variations. That opening gives black a strong counterplay, and you will breath much easier in it.
pfren wrote:
PawnosaurusRex έγραψε:
Doesn't 2...Nc6 just invite 3.d5 and a tempo on the knight?
Not really: 3.d5 is an illegal move.
1e4 e5 2.d4 Nc6. 3. d5 ... don't see how that's illegal?
pfren wrote:
PawnosaurusRex έγραψε:
pfren wrote:
PawnosaurusRex έγραψε:
Doesn't 2...Nc6 just invite 3.d5 and a tempo on the knight?
Not really: 3.d5 is an illegal move.
1e4 e5 2.d4 Nc6. 3. d5 ... don't see how that's illegal?
Nobody here mentioned 1.e4 e5 2.d4, the discussion was about 2.Nf3. Are you sure you understand what you read?
I read IM Poucin suggest 2...Nc6 as an alternative to the Philidor defense (2 . . . d6 ).
krecs wrote:
I have a question, as a philidor player, i play it because of its uncommon nature, and closed and positional style. However I play Hanham. What is the point of exchange philidor?
to use the half open e-file to attack e4 pawn, secure e5 square with pieces (ne5, bf6) and to play d5 if you can to simplify