shalgo wrote on 04/19/09 at 18:28:41:
Bauer deals with 7.f4 with the remark that it "invites the central reply 7...d5!" I can't find any games played with this move, but I would think that white has chances at getting an advantage after 8.e5 Ne4 9.Nxe4 de 10.Be3.
Frankly, the d5 response makes no sense. Here the only logical moves to me for black are c5 and Re8 and possibly Nbd7.
Is there a reason why Philidor is rarely seen at the master level? There doesn't seem to be any champion of the philidor. I realize that '3.. exd4' is virtually forced these days putting a rest to the much loved Hanham line due the venom of 7. Ng5
Tony Kosten used to champion is back when he wrote a book on it!
Markovich wrote on 04/18/09 at 13:24:58:
trw wrote on 04/18/09 at 02:48:01:
Though I don't understand why f4 before 0-0 should be preferable since white clearly intends to castle short.
My point was that if f4 were played early, then ...c5 could be met with Nf3 without obstructing the f-pawn. To me, the pawn duo looks more potent backed up by a knight on f3; I don't really see what Bauer's 8.Nb3"!" is about.
Also Bauer's Nb3"!" is about still being allowed to play f4 at all cause under the move order it is recommended in is as follows 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Be2 0-0 7. 0-0 c5 where now 8. Nf3 locks in the f3 pawn so he's giving 8. Nb3 an "!" because it still allows the f4 plan after Re8 or Nc6 etc to play 9. f4
However, this just makes me prefer your move order of 7. f4 before 7.0-0 because then White does have our preferred option of Nf3 for the knight. I see no hole in this move order which begs the question of why its not played and scores poorly when it is essayed.