ECO C41 · Philidor Defense

Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Bc4+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation (C41), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.704. Bc4 c6 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. O-O exd4 7. Qxd4 Qf6 8. Qd2 Be7
  2. +0.664. Nc3 Be7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. O-O O-O 7. a4 a5 8. Re1 h6
  3. +0.644. a4 Ngf6 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bc4 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Re1 a5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nd7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bc4 for White, continuing c6 5. Ng5 Nh6 6. O-O exd4 7. Qxd4 Qf6 8. Qd2 Be7. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (+0.66) and 4. a4 (+0.64).
Is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.70: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation?
C41. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).