Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 · C41
Part of Philidor Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
Compact, not cramped
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The idea
The Hanham is the Philidor at its most solid: Black develops everything behind a compact wall and waits for White to overreach.
Main line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.a4 c6
What White wants
- Gain space on the queenside with a4 and b4
- Manoeuvre before committing pawns in the centre
- Attack the d6 pawn once the pieces are coordinated
What Black wants
- Complete the setup with ...c6, ...Qc7 and ...Re8
- Free the position with ...exd4 and ...d5
- Play the long, manoeuvring game — Black is very hard to break down
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Compact, not cramped
Every black pawn is defended by another pawn or piece, and there is no hole to aim at. White's only route to an advantage is a slow queenside expansion — which takes a very long time.
Common mistake
Playing d5 in the hope of opening the position. The Hanham setup exists to absorb exactly that — ...c6 and ...b5 come with tempo and the advanced pawn becomes a target. Expand slowly with a4, b4 and Re1 instead.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bq1rk1/pp1nbppp/2pp1n2/4p3/P1BPP3/2N2N2/1PP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 0 8
Analyze this position