Hanham Variation, Delmar Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3d6
- 3.d4Nd7
- 4.Bc4c6
- 5.c3
423 games
Philidor Defense line in which White meets the Hanham setup with 5. c3, bolstering d4 and leading to a slow, maneuvering game with roughly even results.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Delmar Variation
The Delmar Variation is White's choice of 5. c3 against the Hanham setup 4. Bc4 c6. It shores up d4 with a pawn rather than developing a piece as in the Schlechter (5. Nc3) or the Krause (5. O-O). Black most often continues 5...Be7, which is now safe because ...c6 already covers d5. The alternative 5...b5 gains queenside space with tempo against the bishop. Engines give White a slight edge, and results in the database are almost exactly even.