Chessy
The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation with Bc4 (Black)
You've played 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6. Welcome to one of the trickiest cross-sections of the Philidor Defense. White's bishop on c4 eyes the f7 pawn, while your cautious ...c6 supports ...d5 next — but you are not there yet. In this drill you face the position after 4...c6, and you will see how to handle White's most dangerous tries. The engine rates the position +0.86 in White's favour, meaning you are clearly worse here, so accurate defence is essential. The good news? Over 60,000 games show you score just as well as White from this spot — 48.4% wins for Black versus 48.3% for White. With the right answers you can steer into a playable middlegame.
Play the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation: Bc4 against the engine
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Now jump into the interactive drill and practise these replies against a live engine. Play through the critical dxe5 line and the trickier Ng5 attack until the
Create a free account →The Central Tension — the Fight for d5
The defining feature of this Hanham position is the pawn on d4 facing your pawn on d6. White wants to open lines before you solidify with ...d5; you want to keep the centre closed or challenge it under favourable terms. Black's last move 4...c6 is a flexible waiting move that prepares ...b5 (kicking the bishop) and ...d5 without allowing Nb5 tricks. Your bishop on f8 and queen on e7 will eventually support the centre, while the knight on d7 guards e5. Your core idea is to play ...d5 in one go if White allows it, or to recapture cleverly on e5 if White trades.
The Most Dangerous Move: dxe5
White's best reply according to the engine is dxe5, which has been played 28,208 times (47.1% for White). The critical line runs: dxe5 Nxe5 Nxe5 Qa5+. By forcing ...Qa5+, Black gives a check that wins back the piece if White's knight moves — or forces White to block with the queen or bishop, costing time. After the check, Black can recapture the knight on e5 and reach a roughly equal endgame. This is the line you must know cold to avoid worse trouble. If White does not play dxe5, you get other opportunities.
What the 60,000-Game Dataset Reveals
Despite the engine's +0.86 evaluation, the practical results from 60,161 games are a dead split: Black wins 48.4%, White wins 48.3%, and only 3.2% are drawn. That tells you this is a fighting opening where Black's position is harder to handle but far from hopeless. The most instructive split is the White win percentage after each reply — notice how passive or committal moves can backfire for White: - O-O (8,866 games): White scores 49.5% — almost even. - Ng5 (8,854 games): White scores 51.9% — the most dangerous practical choice. - d5 (4,048 games): White scores only 44.0% — a poor move that gives Black the edge. - Nc3 (3,997 games): White scores 47.5% — slightly below average for White. - c3 (2,378 games): White scores 54.4% — a tricky solid move that scores well despite being rare.
The One Mistake to Punish: d5
The statistics identify d5 as a known inaccuracy that loses roughly 0.8 pawns of advantage. When White pushes 5.d5, they close the centre prematurely, letting Black's ...c6 pawn become a strong point. Black can respond with ...cxd5 (or ...Bc5 with ideas) and gain easy development. In the database, White scores only 44.0% after d5 — that is below 50% despite playing the stronger side. If your opponent plays d5, take note: you have outplayed them from the start. The better move for White was always dxe5.
Ng5 — the Tricky Threat You Must Meet
White's Ng5 (8,854 games, 51.9% score) is a practical favourite because it attacks f7 directly. After 5.Ng5, Black must not panic. The standard response is ...Nh6, blocking the check and defending f7. Then Black can follow with ...Be7, castling kingside after the knight retreats. If White tries Bxf7+? Nxf7 Nxf7 Kxf7, Black has the bishop pair and White's attack is gone. This line is well-trodden in club play: stay calm, develop, and remember that White's knight on g5 is a target once you chase it with ...h6.
Results across 60,161 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxe5 | 28,208 | 47.1% |
| O-O | 8,866 | 49.5% |
| Ng5 | 8,854 | 51.9% |
| d5 | 4,048 | 44.0% |
| Nc3 | 3,997 | 47.5% |
| c3 | 2,378 | 54.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philidor Hanham with Bc4 a good opening for Black?
It is a solid but slightly passive choice. The engine gives White an edge of +0.86, meaning you are clearly worse if both sides play perfectly. However, practical results are dead even — 48.4% wins for Black vs 48.3% for White — because the position is rich in plans and White can go wrong easily.
What is the main line after 4...c6 in the Philidor Hanham?
The engine's best line is 5.dxe5 Nxe5 6.Nxe5 Qa5+. Black checks on a5, forcing White to deal with the attack on the knight on e5. Black regains the piece next move with roughly equal play. This is the critical variation to know.
Is 5.d5 a good move for White against the Hanham?
No — it is considered a mistake that loses about 0.8 pawns of advantage. In practice White scores only 44.0% after 5.d5, which is below 50% despite playing the stronger side. If your opponent plays d5, you have outplayed them.
How should Black handle White's Ng5 attack?
Play 5...Nh6, blocking the check on f7 and defending the pawn. Then develop with ...Be7 and castle. If White sacrifices on f7 with Bxf7+, you can capture with the knight and end up with the bishop pair for very little compensation.