Philidor Defence?

I keep encountering this opening when playing against Black. So far, I seem to do pretty well against it. I read somewhere that this opening is not much played by strong players.

So my question is: is this opening basically busted?

At your level openings, and opening lines that are considered "busted" dont matter.  But to answer your question, no its not busted.

Thanks!

It's sound, but cramped and defensive, without much chance of dynamic, counterattacking chances (unlike say the Sicilian or Ruy Lopez), which is why better players tend to avoid it.

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(p. 114)

      PHILIDOR'S DEFENCE

   (1 P-K4, P-K4; 2 N-KB3, P-Q3)

PHILIDOR never played Philidor's Defence! Nimzowitsch (of all people)

found it too eccentric! And Alekhine got the worst of matters more

than once when he played it!

   Nowadays this defence is adopted only to

avoid the better known variations of other

openings, and it has given way in popularity to

its counterpart, Pirc's Defence (1 P-K4, P-

Q3). By locking in his King's Bishop, Black can

only hope for equality. He must be constantly

on the alert for combinations aimed at his weak

King's Bishop's pawn. With mechanical moves

White can achieve a lasting advantage in space

and mobility. Black's game, while sometimes

solid, is always cramped.

   After 3 P-Q4, Black's best is N-KB3, developing a piece and

attacking the rival King's pawn (cols. 1-2). Possibly White does best

to maintain the tension with 4 N-B3, though 4 PxP leads to a sharp,

open game more to the taste of an attacking player.

Evans, Larry, and Walter Korn. 1965. Modern Chess Openings, 10th Edition. New York: Pitman Publishing Corporation.

It's passive but playable.

Who told u it is not played by strong players?

It is...

Carlsen, Caruana, and other top GM, sometimes give it a try and some GM play it as their main weapon on 1.e4.