Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Qh5/2...Nc6/3. Bc4/3...g6/4. Qf3/4...Nf6/5. Nc3/5...Nd4

= Parham Attack =

5...Nd4!
Black threatens to fork White’s pieces while simultaneously putting pressure on the queen, thereby forcing it to retreat to its original square, resulting in a tempo gain. White has some options, white can respond with Qd1, which retreats the queen to it’s starting square while keeping pressure over the diagonals, or Qd3, which does not retreat the queen but instead protects the c2 pawn. However, playing Qd3 results in a loss of control over the diagonals.

White has a variety of moves to play here.


 * Qd1: Qd1 retreats the queen back to the square, saving white from being forked. This move is the best move to play in this position.


 * Qd3: An alternative to Qd1, but this lessens the control over the center.