Sicilian Defense: Bowlder Attack

Okay.

What's the question?

Also called Philidor Variation.   Who is Bowlder ?

Post your winning games. Or the ones that got you trapped in the variation.

I play 2. ... d6 and win ; never trapped.   There is no trap !  And, by the way, who is Bowlder ? 

I think it is named after Thomas Bowdler.

Thanks, Derek, chessph, Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825) was a strong chess player, played 8 games with Philidor (3½-4½) and apparently he was one of the first to withstand 2. Bc4 , although after d6 and e6 black has nothing to fear.   I think beginners  tend to play Qf3 after Bc4, without succes.

So now Anoop Diwan might react ( about a trap ? ) 

Can you believe nobody has yet written a book about this popular opening??

I would write one myself, if I wasn't so certain my publisher would Bowlderize it.

There is no trap. The idea requires participants to exhibit games in variations where you can set up a trap. I am exploring games from the database myself. And, yes I posted as a beginner.

I have never found this very effective, and actually enjoy seeing it as black. Usually black is inexperienced and allows white to bully his light bishop into a corner. However, as white I have seen 3...nf3 followed by 4...Qf6 have success against white's e4 push.  In general, not an opening for white that I recommend. 

The trap is this:

Bc4 is a dubious move.

It can be interesting in some variations of sicilian, like Sozin-Velimirovic attack for instance.

But here, since black didnt commit d6, he can try to push d5 annihilating this bishop...

So 2...e6 is a good reply with idea to follow d5, taking centre and winning time on this Bc4.

Here is a sample game :

Thus, before playing Bc4, wait black plays d6.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 and now if 2...d6, then 3.Bc4 is a playable variation, u can find great players playing this, Anand, Svidler...

Then White usually follows with a "ruy lopez" set up, another sample game :