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Black Lion Defense: The Total Guide

(Only For The Brave)
by Editorial Staff in Chess Openings, Chess Strategy

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Table of Contents

History and Theory

Step-by-Step Sequence

E4-D6

D4-Kf6

Kc3-KB to D7

General Strategy

Examples

Strengths

Weaknesses

Variations

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the lion defense viable against any opening?

How easy to learn is the Lion Defense?

 What’s the best way to practice this defense?

What’s the main benefit of the black lion defense?

Conclusion

Table of Contents

History and Theory

Step-by-Step Sequence

General Strategy

Examples

Strengths

Weaknesses

Conclusion

Have you ever heard of the lion defense? If you haven’t, you’re not alone. I only recently heard about it. So I looked it up and well, I didn’t find
too much information on it. So I collected everything I found on it and also found resources from old chess books. Here’s everything about how
to play the lion defense.

History and Theory

The Black Lion Defense is a variation of the Philidor Defense which was named after François-André Danican Philidor who popularized it as
an alternative to Nc6 and contended that it was more beneficial for white to influence the center. It is also characterized by challenging white’s
f7-f5 pawn thrust. The black lion is known as an aggressive and exciting defense that is used to counter the e4 opening that generally carries an
advantage for white.

The theory behind the defense involves centralized control and also hindering a queen-side attack from white. It is also marked by distinct
pawn pushes in the mid-game such as h6 or g5 to gain more space than your opponent. It is seen as an excellent alternative to the Sicilian
which also seeks to counter white’s powerful e4 opening option. Here we will expound on the Black lion opening that will roar fearlessly at
white and make their legs weak.

Step-by-Step Sequence
Below is the sequence to understand if you’re going to implement this opening correctly and it opens the door to aggressive possibilities that
will put black more on the offensive rather than white dictating the flow of the game with the e4 power move. Memorize this sequence if you
want to master the other intricate elements of this opening as it is the first step to understanding useful strategy.

E4-D6
In response to the powerful E4 move, black forsakes central control for another option namely D6. This opens the D7 square for later
development of the bishop and potentially the queen. It also sets the stage for strong support for an e5 push for center control later on.

D4-Kf6
Naturally, white will play the center in most situations and claim the D4 square with another pawn. Most agree that if you can occupy any of
the center squares with a pawn after black decides to make a more reserved move like D6 then you should. Black then responds with Knight to
f6 which has influence over the e4 square and also attacks the e4 pawn.

Kc3-KB to D7
White will recognize the e4 pawn is under attack and will respond by moving the knight to c3 which effectively alleviates the pressure and
equalizes the center. The next is the defining move you should take note of which is KB to D7 which influences the e5 central square and
prepares for a potential queenside castle. This is the general black lion opening progression and white’s most common and accurate response
played is Kf3 so keep that in mind.

General Strategy
The move to consider now after the opening is accomplished is to push the e5 pawn as discussed earlier. This puts a resource in the center and
challenges the d4 pawn with a useful structure. From there, the most active move from white would be Bc4 which influences the center and
develops an important minor piece.

Now black has the chance to prepare for a castle with Be7 and this is the most common approach to the black lion defense. However, don’t
castle too soon because it can set you back a tempo and lose the effectiveness of this defense. Although it’s important to castle early, too early
can be detrimental, especially when you’re playing black. White will generally castle at this point and then black’s common response is c6.

As we discussed earlier, we aim to eventually play h6 and g5 which will open the kingside up for attack. Consider the next sequence for a very
powerful opening set up in the black lion. However, this should be adjusted accordingly to your opponent’s moves, and always remember to
analyze the board. 1. Qc7 2. h6 3. Kf8 4. g5 After a4, a5 is also another interesting and useful move that can hinder queenside attacks that white
is often known for with the e4 opening. White generally gets a good amount of queenside play by pushing the a and b pawns so this is a wise
preventive measure to note. a5 can be played before the qc7 sequence listed alternatively for solid results.

Examples
You can see the Lion Defense being played out in these examples on Chess.com. Also this guide on ChessTempo is good.

If you’d like to go through games where the Lion defense was played, you can see this list on ChessGames.

Or if you want to watch a video tutorial, this one is worth watching.

 Learn the Black Lion Opening: In Five simple stages

Also, this tutorial by Simon Williams is excellent.

Simon Williams - The Black Lion - An aggressive version of the Philidor Defense

Strengths
One of the strengths of this defense is its ability to compete effectively with the e4 opening that many people playing black struggle against.
The knights support each other out of the gate and you establish a sound central foundation for a good attack while remaining safe
simultaneously. Another strength is you hinder white from attacking aggressively in the e4 opening.

The black lion is a highly creative opening that is great for beginners to explore new possibilities. It is flexible and offers you different options
to execute defensive and offensive techniques in fluid ways. Not only that, but it’s intensely aggressive when played by an experienced lion
tamer. Consider it to be a powerful weapon in your arsenal of defensive techniques against other openings as well because it’s versatile. If you
want the advantage or desire victory then use the Black lion defense and it will serve you well.
Weaknesses
You may find that the lion has a thorn in his paw with certain realities to consider while playing it. The difficulties include the common
question, “What do I do now?” which plagues many in moving the right pieces at opportune times. Never just go on the basis of the sequence
because white’s moves influence the nature of the board.

Like with any defense, it requires practice and insight into positional awareness and active analysis. The black lion can be seen as an all-
purpose tool against the strategies of white, but you must learn to crack the whip effectively to make full use of it. The amount of study you
need to use is limited by comparison to other defenses, but it still requires an understanding of the basic principles and variations.

Variations
The lion defense is in itself a variation of the Philidor defense, and there are different ways to go about it that are acceptable. The a5 push
should be considered as viable before commencing the standard move progression because it stops white from gaining the queen side
advantage. Kf8 before the g5 push is a more flexible option to consider regarding the previous move sequence.

G5 is a distinctive aggressive move played in the black lion and should be kept in the back of your mind. If you want to win with a bold move
then this will set the stage for attacking white’s king effectively. As we observed, white has played h3 to cover his king’s side, but this g5 thrust
is much more of a threat to black opening up the white kingside.

The lion’s cave variation is important to consider if you’re going to play this defense and it involves an f4 thrust after black plays Kd7. Black’s
natural response after this is to immediately push the pawn to e5.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the lion defense viable against any opening?
This defense is incredibly versatile and is perfect for beginners to address common aggressive opening that white plays like e4. You can test it
out against any other opening and get more or less the same results. If played correctly, it will result in an excellent tactical advantage where
black has equal opportunity to win the game. Test it out against a variety of openings for positive and informative results!

How easy to learn is the Lion Defense?

This is a relatively easy defense to learn for beginners and is accessible for those seeking an alternative to matching e4 with e5 or playing the
Sicilian c4. It will take careful concentration to make the right moves, but you won’t get as lost in the Lion Defense if you understand the basic
flow. Study the opening sequence and practice stepping outside the box. Even if you make mistakes, that will give you insight into how to avoid
them in the future and sharpen your claws.

What’s the best way to practice this defense?

Playing through games that utilize this defense will show you the various ways it can be played. A great idea is to actively record your games to
review later for personal reference. From this, you can analyze specific moves and know exactly where you went wrong. Playing other
opponents of similar skill levels who are also studying this defensive technique will help you work together in a team effort to develop your
muscle memory and tactics.

What’s the main benefit of the black lion defense?

The main advantage of using this tactic is the flexibility involved with addressing more aggressive openings from white. It has been shown to
work well at the highest level and there are many players you can learn from. It will encourage critical thinking and help you to think outside
the box while pouncing on your opponents with an unfamiliar response to e4 specifically.

Conclusion
The Black Lion Defense isn’t played often, but it’s still important to learn so you know what to do against it. You likely won’t see it played in
Chess tournaments with Grandmaster players.
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