Yes, and it is the most common way to, since this is the most common move.

This pawn chain is the Philidor's Defense which is not the best defense because of what white can do.

Not the 'best' defence, as Joe says, but quite playable for the patient, cagey player of the Black pieces.

Okay, but 3. d4 is stronger, directly challenging Black's centre.

What Michael just posted is what I was alluding to above and is why the Philidor's Defense is not great.

Best is 3.d4! with the ideas [a] 3...exd4 4.Nxd4, and White has the stronger grip on the centre; [b] 3...Bg4?! (not a very good move, but had a minor popularity in the late 1800s) 4.dxe5 Bxf3 (else 4...dxe5 5.Qxd8ch Kxd8 6.Nxe5 ... winning a pawn. Black usually develops - 3...Nd7 is the Hanham Defence, played to protect the e-pawn.

3d4 or 3Bc4 are stronger.D3 is little passive

A very old idea of counter-attack. Interesting!

Only you can tell us!

Not only that, but asking yourself that isn't a good way to go. You should always know why you made a move and if it's good or not. Here it wasn't great since this undevelops the N. Better was 4.Nc3, and equally good at that was 4.Ng5 which I would've done as now the N would become a threat.

Well... asking yourself now is quite reasonable: and if you can't find an answer, that is step, maybe, towards learning to ask yourself the question BEFORE you play the move. It's all a process of learning and developing your game. OK would have been 4.Nc3 - simply carrying on with mobilizing your pieces.

NEVER move pieces back in that way especially in opening !

It's mainly about development. I, at first, agreed with Michael about Qh5+ since we see that in the Domiano's Defense, but this is of no concern here because after ...g6 white doesn't go anywhere do to black's f5 pawn. But, black's idea of a good time is getting something out, and perhaps, which it should be, castling.

Develops a piece, and adds another attacker to White's e4 pawn.

This is a good move, threatening to win a pawn, but also a cover for the h5-square - just to prevent any nasty checks by the White queen. Such a check is no threat at the moment, of course, but things can change.

It does, for just that moment. But, after 5...Be7 white still has to worry about the pawn. So, g6 also becomes essential which is still available, believe it or not, Erika.

If effect White has 'lost' two tempi (moves), and will lose a pawn as well. 5.Nc3 would have been a better option.

The pawn on e4 is unprotected.You should try Nc3 or exf5

White could get the pawn back by 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5+ Kd7 9. Qf5+ and Qxe4.

It's an easy move to overlook, but as Michael noted, there were ways to prevent that. This is where 5.Nf3? lost a pawn.

I am not sure that works 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxe5+ Qe7 10. Qxh8 Nf6+ traps the white queen in at h8 and maybe black can win it with Kd7 and Bg7 - I am not sure, it is complicated.

How about 7.Nxe5 dxe5 8.Qh5ch g6 9.Qxe5ch Qe7 10.Qxh8 Bf5 Black has a big lead in development and a fine game for the material loss. Or Black can recover the material with 10...Ng3ch (instead of ...Bf5) 11.Be3 Nxh1 with about an even game (the knight might be hard to rescue from h1!).

Preparing to castle which was a very good intention, but there is a small problem with this move, Erika, and it's not easy to spot. I'll give you a hint since 7.Be3 was your best move.

Well... This move is OK, and 7...Qf6 isn't really much of a threat. Black would probably be better off playing 7...Be7 and 8...0-0 now.

Now if White can get in c2-c4, Black is left with a backward d-pawn.

The issue is that black could and ought to have played 7.Qf6 where your Nf3 is half pinned. As now, if it moves, black mates with 8...Qxf2# since the f pawn is a critical square. So, you'd have to leave your Nf3 where it is which cause some problems for white later on.

This move leaves Black with a hole at d4, that White might well exploit.

Trying to stop a pawn, but better was to continue developing or castle at once, which I would've done myself.

Joe is probably right: castling would have been a fine option, here, as Black can't do much to 'correct' his pawn structure. But I would have looked at this c-pawn advance myself, or possibly 8.Bc4.

Now Black could double White's pawns with 9... Nxc3.

?! Which you could've done, earlier. In addition, black can exchange N's which would leave him with a small advantage due to doubled pawn that you'd be forced to face.

Mistimed. It's a good move, but this is not a great time to play it. Instead, 9.Bd3 would have chased the knight away, more than likely, and then 10.Nc3 could have been played. nuntar is correct: Black should play 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be7, now.

?? This is a terrible blunder that will cost him a piece. Exchanging with 9...Nxc3 was essential.

Nxe4!

black just blunder his knight

Winning material was of more importance, though.

Now, white can play Nxd6+ with a potential threat of a discovered attack.

the pawn on d6 is protected twice Nxd6 would lose piece