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
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black kingh8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black pawne6 black kingf6 black knightg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 white pawne4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 black kinge2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6

Improved Hanham Variation (Nimzowitsch Variation)

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White Strategy
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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
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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
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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

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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 || |}

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Bibliography

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  • 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!.