Chessy
King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense 4.h4 — Playing Black
The King's Gambit is one of chess's most aggressive openings, but in the Cunningham Defense with 4.h4, the tables turn. After 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 Be7 4.h4, Black strikes back with 4...d5, blowing open the centre before White can launch a kingside attack. Stockfish rates this position -1.14, a clear advantage for Black, and the statistics back it up — from over 50,000 games, Black wins 50.9% of the time while White only scores 46.1%. That means you are already well on your way to a great result. The drill below puts you in Black's seat against an engine that adapts to your play. Let's see how to handle White's most popular replies.
Play the King's Gambit Accepted: Cunningham Defense: h4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
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Create a free account →Why 4...d5 is the perfect rejoinder
When White plays 4.h4, the idea is to support a quick g3 or Bc4 followed by an attack on your kingside. By playing 4...d5, you ignore that plan completely and strike at the centre. This move opens lines for your pieces — your queen, light-squared bishop, and c8-bishop all get more active — and it forces White to react. If White captures with exd5, you recapture with the queen and enjoy a comfortable lead in development. If White advances with e5, you can answer with ...Nc6 or ...Bf5 and build a strong pawn centre of your own. The engine's verdict of -1.14 is your invitation to trust this approach.
The engine's top response: Nc3
White's best move here is Nc3, continuing development and defending the d5 pawn indirectly. After Nc3, the engine recommends Nf6, hitting e4, and then d3 O-O to follow. This line leads to a tense but favourable middlegame for you. While Nc3 is the most accurate move available to White, it still only scores 44.2% for White across 2,154 games — well below average. That tells you that even when White plays well, you have excellent chances as Black.
The most popular replies — and how to face them
In practice, White players often choose exd5 (24,258 games) or e5 (21,615 games) instead of the engine's top move. Here is what to expect from each: - exd5: White captures and you recapture Qxd5. White scores only 49.2% here — barely above average — and you get quick development with ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 next. - e5: White pushes past. This scores even worse for White at 44.4%. You can play ...Nc6 or ...Bf5, build a strong centre with ...f6, and enjoy space and activity. Both options leave you with a comfortable plus.
The mistakes to punish: d4 and Bd3
Two moves you should be happy to see on the board. d4 is a full-blown mistake costing roughly 1.9 pawns — White scores a miserable 27.9% after this. Your best reply is to take with ...exd4 (e.p.) followed by ...Nf6, leaving White's centre shattered and your pieces free. Bd3 is an inaccuracy losing about 1.0 pawns; White scores just 36.7%. You can punish it by capturing dxe4, winning a pawn outright while White's bishop hangs awkwardly. If you see either of these moves from your opponent, strike hard and fast.
Results across 50,910 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| exd5 | 24,258 | 49.2% |
| e5 | 21,615 | 44.4% |
| Nc3 | 2,154 | 44.2% |
| d3 | 1,260 | 38.8% |
| d4 | 802 | 27.9% |
| Bd3 | 221 | 36.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Gambit Accepted Cunningham Defense 4.h4 good for Black?
Yes, very good. Stockfish evaluates the position at -1.14 in Black's favour, meaning you are clearly better. In practice, Black wins 50.9% of games, White wins 46.1%, and draws are rare at 3.0%.
What is White's best move in the Cunningham Defense h4?
The engine recommends Nc3, which scores 44.2% for White across 2,154 games. That's still a poor score — it shows that even White's best reply leaves you with a clear advantage as Black.
How should Black reply to exd5 in this line?
After White plays exd5, you recapture with Qxd5. You get fast development and active piece play. White scores only 49.2% in this line, so you are doing well — keep developing with moves like Nc6 and Bf5.
What are White's worst moves here?
d4 is a mistake costing about 1.9 pawns — White scores just 27.9% after it. Bd3 is an inaccuracy losing 1.0 pawns, with White scoring 36.7%. In both cases you can win material: take en passant against d4, or capture dxe4 against Bd3.