Chessy
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation as Black
The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation begins with a compact, flexible setup: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7. As Black, you are aiming for a solid position first and an active game later, but you also need to know what White is trying to do right away. This lesson shows the shape of the position, the engine’s main answer for White, and the practical replies you are most likely to face in the drill below. Use it to get comfortable before you test yourself against the position.
Play the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and test whether you can hold the Hanham setup together as Black. Create a free account to train the position against the adapting engine.
Create a free account →What this position is asking you to handle
After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7, White to move has the more pleasant version of the position according to the engine. Stockfish rates this +0.68, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The good news is that the position is still very playable, and the game often comes down to whether you stay patient, keep your pieces coordinated, and avoid giving White an easy central advantage.
The engine’s main reaction: Bc4
The engine’s best move here is Bc4, and the listed continuation is Bc4 exd4 Nxd4 Ngf6. That tells you something important: White is trying to build quick activity, not just make a random developing move. Against this kind of setup, you should be ready to respond with calm development and sensible piece placement rather than chasing complications too early. In the drill, pay close attention to whether White is increasing pressure or simply moving pieces into active squares.
What the database says White usually tries
Across 1,058,502 games at this exact position, the move most often played is dxe5 with 540,117 games. Other common continuations are d5 with 195,462 games, Bc4 with 135,090 games, Nc3 with 74,383 games, Bb5 with 32,706 games, and c3 with 24,006 games. The key takeaway is that White has several normal-looking choices, so you should not expect one single forced line. Your job is to stay organised and meet the most natural developing moves with equally natural development of your own.
How the results look in practice
The Lichess database for this exact position shows White wins 48.6%, draws 4.1%, and Black wins 47.3%. That is a very close set of results, but White’s score is a little better. In practical terms, you are not trying to prove the opening is perfect; you are trying to make the position stable, know your plans, and stop White from turning the first move advantage into something bigger. This is exactly the sort of position where good habits matter more than memorised tricks.
Results across 1,058,502 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe5 | 540,117 | 48.7% |
| d5 | 195,462 | 44.4% |
| Bc4 | 135,090 | 52.9% |
| Nc3 | 74,383 | 49.9% |
| Bb5 | 32,706 | 48.1% |
| c3 | 24,006 | 48.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation good for Black?
It is a playable opening for Black, but the engine assessment here is +0.68, which means White has a small edge. You should treat it as a solid practical choice, not as a way to claim an advantage straight away. Good piece development and king safety matter a lot.
What is White’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move is Bc4. The listed continuation is Bc4 exd4 Nxd4 Ngf6, which shows that White’s active development is the main test. In the drill, be ready for that kind of direct piece play.
What move is most common for White here?
The most-played continuation is dxe5, with 540,117 games. The database also shows d5, Bc4, Nc3, Bb5, and c3 as common choices. That means you need to understand the position rather than memorise only one reply.
What score does Black get in practice?
In the database for this exact position, Black wins 47.3% of the games, while White wins 48.6% and draws are 4.1%. Those numbers are close, but they still show White doing a little better overall. Your goal is to keep the game balanced and avoid drifting into a passive position.
How many games feature the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation position. White wins 48.6%, Black wins 47.3%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.