# Bishop's Opening - Sideline 2... d6!?

In the Bishop's Opening, after the moves 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4, Black's move 2...d6 leads usually to the Philidor Defence. This line is a solid choice for Black and has historical significance, as it was often preferred during the time of François-André Danican Philidor, a renowned 18th-century chess player.
Main Moves
* For White: After 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d6, the traditional move 3. Nf3 leads to a game that can transpose into lines of the Philidor Defense. However, an aggressive approach is 3.f4, directly challenging Black's center and aiming for a spatial advantage. This move is in line with the spirit of the Bishop's Opening, which seeks to control the center and develop pieces rapidly. Philidor's insighted into the importance of the f-pawn break is quite relevant here. He claimed that the player who first advances the f-pawn (f4 for White or f5 for Black) would gain a spatial advantage. However, the move 3. f4 has been refuted by the current status of the chess opening theory.
* For Black: In response to White's moves, Black should focus on solid development and maintaining a strong pawn structure. If White plays 3.Nf3, Black can continue with moves like Nf6, Be7, and O-O, aiming for a solid yet flexible position. If White opts for 3.f4, Black needs to be more cautious, possibly countering with exf4 and following up with Nf6 and Be7, preparing to castle and counterattack in the center.

## Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation. .
1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 d6!?
| | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| | f4?! exf4 | d4 Qh4+ | Kf1 Nc6 | Nf3 Qh6 | Nc3 Nf6 | e5 dxe5 | Nb5 e4 | Ne5 Bd6 | = |
| | ... ... | ... ... | ... ... | ... ... | ... ... | ... Nh5(!) | Nb5 Kd8 | Bxf7 Ng3+! | ⩱ |
| | ... ... | ... ... | ... ... | ... Bg4! | Nxh4 Bxd1 | Nc3 Bxc2 | Bxf4 Nf6 | | ⩱ |
| | c3 Nf6 | Qe2 Be7 | Nf3 | | | | | | = |
| Transposition to the "Modern" Berlin Defence | ... ... | d3 Be7 | Nf3 O-O | O-O | | | | | = |
| Transposition to the "Modern" Berlin Defence | Nf3 Nf6 | d3 Be7 | O-O O-O | c3 c6 | Bb3 | | | | = |
| Transposition to the "Modern" Berlin Defence | ... ... | ... ... | ... ... | Re1 c6 | a4 | | | | = |
| Transposition to the Philidor Defence with 3. Bc4, Lopez Countergambit | ... f5?! | | | | | | | | ± +− |
| Transposition to the Philidor Defence with 3. Bc4 | ... Be6?! | | | | | | | | ± |
| Transposition to the Philidor Defence with 3. Bc4 | ... Be7 | d4 exd4 | Nxd4 Nd7?? | | | | | | +− |
| Transposition to the Philidor Defence Exchange Variation with 4. Nxd4 | ... ... | ... ... | ... Nf6! | Nc3 O-O | O-O | | | | = |
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## References

Bibliography
* Kasparov, Gary & Keene, Raymond (1989, 1994). Batsford Chess Openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
* Lane, Gary (1993). Winning With the Bishop's Opening. ISBN 0-7134-7113-1.
* Panov, Vasily. (1973). Teoría de Aperturas, Tomo I: Aperturas Abiertas - Aperturas Semiabiertas. ISBN 84-270-0132-0.
* Schiller, Eric. (2002). Standard Chess Openings. ISBN 1-58042-048-6.
External links
* Goeller, Michael. The Bishop's Opening.
* Harding, Tim (August 1998). The Kibitzer: What Exactly is the Bishop's Opening?. ChessCafe.com.
* Harding, Tim (September 1998). The Kibitzer: The Eternal Appeal Of The Urusov Gambit. ChessCafe.com.
* Harding, Tim (October 1998). The Kibitzer: Is the Urusov Gambit Sound?. ChessCafe.com