411 REFERENCE · Wikibooks
Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...Nd7/4. Bc4/4...Ngf6
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Hanham variation C41 Philidor defence → Hanham variation → 4. Bc4
4...Ngf6
Black develops a knight and controls d5, but this natural move loses a pawn.
White can capture 5. dxe5 and Black can't recover it and hold onto it.
5...dxe5 allows 6. Ng5! and Black has to give up at least a piece to prevent Bxf7 Ke7 Ne7!, trapping the queen. Black has to give up at least a piece to prevent it (6...Bb4+ 7. c3 O-O 8. cxb4), or accept two pieces for their queen (e.g. 6...Bb4+ 7. c3 Bc5 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Ne6 Kxf7 10. Nxd8+ Rxd8).
5...Nxe5 is better, but allows White to seize the f7 pawn and trade queens (5...Nxe5 6. Nxe5 dxe5 7. Bxf7+ and e.g. 7...Ke7 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8).
Theory table
5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Ng5 Bb4+ 7. c3 O-O 8. cxb4 +++ 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Ng5 Bb4+ 7. c3 Bc5 8. Bxf7+ Ke7 9. Ne6 Kxf7 10. Nxd8+ Rxd8 +++ 5. ... ... 6. ... Qe7? 7. Bxf7+ Kd8 8. Ne6+ Qxe6 9. Bxe6 +++ 5. ... Nxe5 6. Nxe5 dxe5 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 ++
References
See also