Chessy
How to Play the Gunderam Defense as Black
The Gunderam Defense begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7, and that unusual queen move is exactly what makes the position tricky. You are choosing a setup that can surprise White, but the position also asks an important question: can you solve your development smoothly enough to stay alive? In this drill, you will face the most testing continuations from White and learn what to do when the game becomes uncomfortable very quickly.
Play the Gunderam Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the numbers say about this position
This exact position has been played in 1,073,759 games on Lichess, so there is a very large practical sample to learn from. White wins 54.0%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 42.3%. Stockfish rates this +0.87, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are already under real pressure, so your job is not to claim equality casually but to find a reliable, playable plan and avoid making the position even easier for White.
White’s most common tries
The most-played continuations show what White usually wants to do next. Bc4 is the main choice with 482,091 games and White scoring 54.6%. Nc3 appears in 306,276 games, with White scoring 55.2%. White also uses d4 in 130,374 games, d3 in 41,783 games, c3 in 37,977 games, and b3 in 17,371 games. In practical terms, you should expect White to develop quickly and keep asking questions of your queen and your kingside setup.
The engine’s main answer
Stockfish’s best move here is Bc4, and the engine line continues Bc4 d6 O-O g6. That tells you the kind of structure White is aiming for: easy development, pressure on your position, and the initiative staying with White unless you meet it accurately. As Black, you need to stay calm and coordinate your pieces rather than chasing ghosts. The queen move in the opening has to be justified by solid piece play, not by hope.
The mistakes to punish
There are also a couple of known inaccuracies you should recognise in this position. d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; the better move was Bc4. b3 is a mistake and loses about 1.0 pawns; again, Bc4 was better. If White chooses either of these slower setups, your task is simple: use the extra time to finish development, keep your position together, and look for the fact that White has already drifted away from the strongest pressure.
Results across 1,073,759 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 482,091 | 54.6% |
| Nc3 | 306,276 | 55.2% |
| d4 | 130,374 | 51.8% |
| d3 | 41,783 | 52.1% |
| c3 | 37,977 | 51.5% |
| b3 | 17,371 | 52.3% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gunderam Defense good for Black?
The database result here is not favourable for Black. White scores 54.0% across 1,073,759 games, and Stockfish gives +0.87, which means White has a clear, lasting advantage. It is playable as a surprise, but you need to know the position well.
What is White trying to do against 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Qe7?
White usually develops naturally and keeps the initiative. The most common choices are Bc4, Nc3, and d4, with Bc4 the main move in the database. Your task is to meet that development without falling behind in piece activity.
What move does the engine prefer for White?
The engine’s best move here is Bc4. The listed continuation is Bc4 d6 O-O g6, which shows that White can keep pressing while Black still has to solve development and king safety. This is a position where White is clearly more comfortable.
What are the common mistakes in this position?
d3 is marked as an inaccuracy and b3 is marked as a mistake. In both cases, Bc4 is the better move. If White plays one of those quieter setups, you should still stay accurate, but you have gained a practical chance to catch up in development.
How many games feature the Gunderam Defense?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Gunderam Defense position. White wins 54.0%, Black wins 42.3%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.