Chess opening · ECO C20
King's Pawn Game: Leonardis Variation
In the Leonardis Variation White meets 1...e5 with the modest 2.d3. The pawn guards e4 and opens a diagonal for the c1 bishop, but it walls in the f1 bishop and claims no new central squares. White is in effect playing a reserved black setup with an extra move, often heading for g3 and Bg2. Black is free to grab space at once.
- Rank by weighted share
- #59 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 e5 2. d3
- 2. d3One square forward, the d-pawn props up e4 and lets the c1 bishop out toward e3, f4 or g5. It also shuts the f1 bishop's diagonal at d3, leaving it only e2. That is why White so often follows with g3 and Bg2 to give that bishop a new diagonal.
Taking the center with 2...d5
Black can strike right away. After 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 the position resembles a Scandinavian Defense, except that Black also has a pawn on e5 and White has spent a tempo on d3. Nc3 can still hit the queen, so Black should know where she is going next.
Black can also skip the pawn trade and just develop. With ...Nf6, ...Nc6, a bishop to c5 or e7 and short castling, Black builds a classical setup facing White's pawns on d3 and e4.
A King's Indian Attack shape
White can answer with Nf3, g3, Bg2, short castling and Nbd2. That is the King's Indian Attack scheme, built behind the d3 and e4 pawns. The knight goes to d2 rather than c3 so the c-pawn can still advance to c3 and back up a later d4.
Because d2 is empty after 2.d3, a black bishop on b4 now gives check. White usually has c3, Nc3 or Bd2 ready to answer it.
Top replies by rating
Nc6 and Nf6 hold the top two spots in every band. Bc5 enters the top three at 1600 to 1999, and at 2000 and up it gives way to d5, the direct central strike.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nf6 24% | Nc6 19% | d6 14% |
| 1200–1399 | Nc6 24% | Nf6 20% | d6 16% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc6 26% | Nf6 22% | d6 14% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc6 29% | Nf6 23% | Bc5 16% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc6 29% | Nf6 27% | Bc5 14% |
| 2000 and up | Nc6 44% | Nf6 26% | d5 16% |
Questions
Is 2.d3 a reversed Philidor Defense?
The pawn idea is similar: one side backs up its e-pawn with the d-pawn instead of fighting for the middle at once. With White's extra tempo, the move can go toward a fianchetto or toward a later f4 push.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.