Tree path 5 levels King's Pawn Game › Nimzowitsch Defense › Nimzowitsch Defense › Kennedy Variation › Hammer Gambit
B00

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit

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Overview

Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, Hammer Gambit is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO B00 in the Semi-Open Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

It begins with 6 plies and takes 1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 3. dxe5 f6 to reach the canonical position.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
B00
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
6
Parent
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

37,265 games · White 54.0% / Draw 3.7% / Black 42.3%

MovesGamesW / D / B
exf615,075
Nf312,671
Nc32,387
Bc42,045
f41,901
e61,087
Bb5708
Qh5+496

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:17:47

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