Philidor's Defence
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There is also a continuation from the Philidor's Defence. If white plays d4, black can take with exd4.
exd4
If Nxd4, black can gets his kings knight out to Nd6, ready to castle next move.
Philidor Plays Three Chess Games Blindfolded
Most people who have ever taken to the chessboard will have an understanding of how complex and mentally demanding the game can be. Imagine then, playing a game of chess blindfolded; planning a strategy and overcoming a skilled opponent without being able to see the board. Under these circumstances the player would have no physical hold on his pieces, and would see them solely in his mind’s eye.
This was the task undertaken by Francois-André Philidor, the great French chess pioneer, and perhaps one of the strongest players to ever grace the game. On 9 May 1793, Philidor conducted an exhibition match, playing three separate opponents on three separate boards. To demonstrate his phenomenal abilities, Philidor played the matches blindfolded. Each of his opponents had the advantage of the white pieces, and on one board Philidor played with a pawn down. But despite these restrictions, to the amazement of those in attendance at the St James Street chess club in London, Philidor triumphed in two games, and forced a draw in the other.
Philidor was born in 1726 in Dreux, northern France, into a family of distinguished musicians. He displayed exceptional musical talents from a very young age, and when only a boy was invited to play a composition in front of the court of King Louis XV. Pursuing a musical career, he moved to Paris in around 1740, where he earned a living teaching, performing, and copying music.
It was while in Paris that his head was turned by the game that would bring him worldwide recognition. He lived near the Café de la Régence, an establishment that had become a hub for the French capital’s best players. Philidor took up the game in earnest, immediately showing promise. His raw talent was recognised by Legall de Kermeur, considered to be the strongest chess player in France at that time. He tutored the inexperienced Philidor, engaging the young pretender in hundreds of practice matches. At first Kermeur gave Philidor a piece advantage, but Philidor soon got the upper hand over his tutor, and the self-imposed handicap was withdrawn.
By the age of 25 he was among the best players in France, and had attained considerable celebrity. He began to show off his talents in matches at home and abroad, playing and beating the best players in Europe. In 1749 he published L’Analyse du Jeu des Èchecs (An Analysis of the Game of Chess) one of the first thorough studies of the game, and still regarded as one of the most important chess books ever written.
The blindfolded match coincided with the pinnacle of his powers, but he continued to tour and play chess until his death in 1795. The Philidor Defense, a classic opening strategy, is named after him.
Philidor's Defence with black pieces. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Be7