Hanham Variation, Sharp Variation
- 1.e4e5
- 2.Nf3d6
- 3.d4Nd7
- 4.Bc4Nb6
65 games
Sharp Hanham line of the Philidor Defense in which 4...Nb6 hits White's c4 bishop at the cost of loosening e5; engines clearly favor White.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Sharp Variation
The Sharp Variation of the Hanham departs from the main 4...c6 with 4...Nb6. This move attacks the bishop on c4 immediately, but it pulls the knight away from its defense of e5 and leaves f7 exposed. White usually keeps the bishop on its diagonal with 5. Bb3. The alternatives 5. Bxf7+ and 5. dxe5 appear less often. Engines rate White clearly better, and White scores heavily in the small sample of online games.