Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...Nf6

Improved Hanham Variation
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/ppp2ppp/3p1n2/4p3/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6

Improved Hanham Variation (Nimzowitsch Variation)

White Strategy

White tries to gain a pawn and exchange queens and stop Black from castling by playing 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd5 Rellstab Variation. This opens up the center and creates opportunities for White to attack Black's pawns. Alternatively, the more popular 4.Nс3 Nbd7 allows White to develop and control the center.

Black Strategy

Black's main strategy is to create a solid pawn structure and launch a counterattack on White's center. The move 3...Nf6 is a common and strong option that puts pressure on White's central pawns and prepares for a future kingside castle.

Black's setup with ...Nbd7 aims to create a solid queenside pawn wall that can be expanded later.

In the Rellstab Variation, Black's move 4...Nxe4 gains a pawn in the center. The knight on e4 also targets weak squares in White's position.

Risks

The main risk for Black in the Improved Hanham Variation (Nimzowitsch Variation) is the need for precise and accurate play, as one slight mistake can give a significant advantage to White. The opening is often considered passive, and White can gain an advantage if Black does not play carefully.

In the Rellstab Variation, Black's queen position can be a weakness, as White can attack it with the bishop after moves like Qd5.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6

	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Exchange Variation by Transposition	Nc3 exd4	Nxd4 Be7	Be2 O-O	O-O Re8	Re1				⩲
	... ...	... ...	g3 O-O	Bg2 Re8	O-O				⩲
Improved Hanham, Nimzowitsch-LionVariation	... Nbd7	Bc4 Be7	O-O O-O	a4 c6	Re1				⩲
	... ...	... ...	... ...	Re1 c6	a4				⩲
	... ...	... ...	a4 O-O	O-O c6	Re1				⩲
Improved Hanham, Nimzowitsch-Rellstab Variation	dxe5 Nxe4	Qd5 Nc5	Bg5 Qd7?!	exd6 Bxd6	Nc3!				±
	... ...	... ...	... Be7	exd6 cxd6?!	Nc3!				±
	... ...	... ...	... ...	... Qxd6!?	Nc3 Qxd5	Nxd5 Bd6	O-O-O Nc6?!	Nd2!	±
	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	... ...	... Be6!		⩲

! rowspan="5" align="right" |Improved Hanham, Nimzowitsch-Sokolsky Variation | dxe5
Nxe4 || Nbd2
Nc5 || |}

Bibliography

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Kaufman, Larry (2004). The Chess Advantage in Black and White. ISBN 0-8129-3571-3.
• 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

• ChessBase (2023). Philidor Defence.
• Chess Openings for Beginners (2009). Philidor Defense: General Information.
• ChessPathways (2019). PHILIDOR DEFENSE.
• ChessPathways (2019). The Philidor Defense.
• Chess Simplified (2019). Philidor Defence.
• HangingPawns (2019). Introduction to the Philidor Defense.
• Marsh, Sean (ChessAble) (2021). Chess Opening Basics: The Philidor Defense.
• papachess.com (2024). papachess.com, Nimzowitsch's Unbeatable Weapon: Philidor Defense.
• papachess.com (2024). papachess.com, Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Rellstab Variation, move by move.
• Prem, Krishna (2012). Chess openings - Philidor Defence.
• The Chess Website (2012). Philidor Defense - Chess Openings.
• Solomon, Ruddell (TheChessGiant) (2021). Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Philidor Defense!.