Chessy
Italian Game: Hungarian Defense (3...Be7) – Black's Guide to 4.d4
If you're tired of the same old two‑knights Italian lines, the Hungarian Defense with 3...Be7 is a calm, solid way to meet 1.e4 e5. But White can sharpen the game with 4.d4, immediately challenging your centre. At first glance this looks dangerous for Black, and the engine says the resulting position is +0.52 — a small edge for White. That means you, as Black, are slightly worse. Don't panic. The statistics from over a million games show you still score 43.7%, and many of White's natural‑looking moves actually backfire. Let's see what works, what doesn't, and how to turn the tables.
Play the Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: d4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Ready to test your Black setup? Jump into the interactive drill below — you'll face 5.Nxd4 and the tricky alternatives, with the engine adapting to your moves.
Create a free account →What the Scoreboard Really Says
Before you dive into the drill, get the big picture. From this position after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4, Stockfish gives +0.52, favouring White — so you start with a small disadvantage as Black. But engine numbers don't tell the whole story. Over 1,266,767 games in the Lichess database, White wins 52.8%, draws are rare at 3.5%, and Black wins 43.7%. That is a very healthy score for the second player. If White plays imprecisely — and club players often do — those percentages swing even further your way. The key is knowing which White moves punish themselves.
The Engine's First Choice: Nxd4
The computer's top move is 5.Nxd4, intending d6, Nxc6, and bxc6. This is also far and away the most common move in practice (769,473 games). White scores 52.2% here — exactly in line with the overall average. That means even the best line is nothing special for White. You'll need to know the follow‑up: after 5...d6 White can trade knights on c6, giving you the b‑file and a solid if doubled pawn structure. Your plan is simple: finish development (Be6 or Bf5, Nf6), castle kingside, and enjoy the solid centre. There's no need to fear this line — it's just standard chess.
Sharp Surprises That Favour Black
This is where the lesson gets fun. Several aggressive tries by White are actually serious mistakes. The database shows that 5.e5 is a mistake worth about 1.6 pawns in your favour. White wins only 43.7% from here — a huge drop. If you see e5, calmly meet it with ...d5 or ...Ng4, and you'll be fine. Worse for White is 5.Ng5, a mistake that loses about 2.3 pawns; White's winning percentage plummets to just 24.4%. And the worst offender is 5.Bxf7+? — a classic Italian‑game trap that backfires here. It's a full blunder, losing about 4.1 pawns, and White wins only 35.5% of the time. If White grabs the f‑pawn, you're simply better after ...Kxf7. Learn those three lines and you'll punish overreaching opponents.
The Tricky c3 and O‑O Lines
Two other popular moves deserve your attention. 5.c3 appears in 293,664 games and is dangerous — White scores 58.8%, the highest of any common line. The idea is to recapture on d4 with the pawn and build a big centre. Your antidote: don't let White have easy play. Consider 5...d5 (challenging the centre immediately) or simply develop with ...Nf6 and ...d6, making it hard for White to claim space for free. By contrast, 5.O‑O is actually good for you: White scores only 48.7%, below their average. After 5...Nf6, Black has a comfortable game with easy development. If your opponent castles quickly, you've already reached the kind of quiet, manoeuvring middlegame the Hungarian Defense is all about.
Results across 1,266,767 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 769,473 | 52.2% |
| c3 | 293,664 | 58.8% |
| O-O | 157,268 | 48.7% |
| e5 | 21,924 | 43.7% |
| Bxf7+ | 6,513 | 35.5% |
| Ng5 | 4,010 | 24.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hungarian Defense (3...Be7) a good opening for beginners?
Yes, it's an excellent choice for beginners and club players. You avoid the sharp theory of the Two Knights or the Giuco Piano, and you get a solid, if slightly passive, position. The statistics show Black scores 43.7% from the 4.d4 line — perfectly respectable for the second player at any level.
What should Black do after 5.Nxd4?
The engine's best reply is 5...d6, preventing any Nf5 ideas and preparing to develop. White usually continues 6.Nxc6 bxc6, giving you the b‑file and a doubled but playable pawn structure. Develop your kingside, castle, and you'll have a solid position with no immediate threats.
Is 5.Bxf7+ a good move for White?
No — it's a blunder that loses about 4.1 pawns. White wins only 35.5% of games after this move. You simply take with the king (5...Kxf7), and Black is clearly better thanks to the lead in development and the bishop pair. Don't fall for the illusion that the Italian bishop sacrifice always works.
Can White play 5.c3 against the Hungarian Defense?
Yes, and it's the most dangerous move for Black statistically — White scores 58.8% from here. The idea is to recapture on d4 with the pawn. Your best response is probably 5...d5, immediately challenging the centre, or simple development with ...Nf6. Treat this line with respect, but there's no need to fear it.
How many games feature the Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: d4?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Italian Game: Hungarian Defense: d4 position. White wins 52.8%, Black wins 43.7%, with 3.5% draws — based on real rated games.