Chessy
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation — 4.dxe5
The Philidor Defense is a sturdy, classical answer to 1.e4. After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7, White most often captures with 4.dxe5, leading to a calm but sharp position. There's good news if you're playing Black: across nearly half a million games, Black actually wins more often than White (48.6% to 47.4%), despite the engine giving White a tiny edge. That gap tells you this is a fighting middlegame where understanding a few key ideas matters far more than memorising engine lines. Let's see what those ideas are.
Play the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation: dxe5 against the engine
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Create a free account →The Big Picture: What Black Is Fighting For
After 4.dxe5 dxe5, the centre is cleared and both sides have a pawn on their king's fourth rank. Your pawn on e5 eyes f4 and supports a future ...f5 break, while your knight on d7 is well placed to reroute to f8 or c5 if needed. The main tension is on the e-file. White will often try to occupy the centre with pieces and target your slightly weak e5-pawn, but you have active piece play in return. One of your most useful resources is an early ...Bb4+ to disrupt White's setup and force a concession. If White plays a passive move like Bb5 or a slow one like Bg5, you can seize the initiative quickly.
The Engine's Top Reply and How to Answer It
Stockfish's best move here is Bc4, attacking the f7-square and threatening quick development. White has played Bc4 more than any other move (144,807 games), scoring 50.8% — essentially even. The engine's suggested continuation runs: Bc4 Bb4+ c3 Bd6. That check on b4 is Black's key idea: you force White to block with c3, which slightly weakens the d3-square and costs a tempo. After you retreat the bishop to d6, you have a solid, active position. Your bishop pair gives you long-term prospects, and White's extra tempo hasn't produced much. Just remember to develop your kingside quickly (Nf6, then castle) and keep an eye on the e5-pawn.
The Moves You Want Your Opponent to Play
This is the real value of knowing the Philidor Hanham. Three of White's most-played moves are outright mistakes: - Nxe5 (played 30,871 games!) is a blunder, losing about 3.4 pawns. If White grabs the e5-pawn, you simply recapture with ...Nxe5 and you're up a piece — White cannot save the knight on f3. White scores a miserable 34.4% from this move. - Bb5 is an inaccuracy (loses ~0.6 pawns). You can answer with ...Bb4+ or simply develop with ...Nf6, and Black already has the edge. White scores only 46.8%. - Bg5 is also an inaccuracy (loses ~0.6 pawns). White scores 45.4% after this pin attempt. You can handle it with ...f6, kicking the bishop, or ...Be7 and castle. The takeaway: your opponent has to find Bc4 to stay in the game. If they play anything else in the top five, you're already doing well.
What the Statistics Tell You
With 437,345 games in the Lichess database, we have a rock-solid picture. The 48.6% Black win rate against 47.4% White wins (and only 4.1% draws) shows this is a sharp, decisive position. Draws are rare — players fight it out. The engine's +0.49 evaluation is a small edge for White, but at the board, Black's practical chances are better. Why? Because the position is easy to misplay for White. The Bc4 line is White's only good try, and even there White scores only 50.8% — essentially a coin flip. Against weaker moves like Bb5, Bg5, or the disastrous Nxe5, Black scores well above 50%. So while theory says White has a tiny plus, the stats say you should be happy to reach this position as Black.
Results across 437,345 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bc4 | 144,807 | 50.8% |
| Nc3 | 115,687 | 47.3% |
| Bb5 | 93,234 | 46.8% |
| Nxe5 | 30,871 | 34.4% |
| Bg5 | 13,747 | 45.4% |
| Bd3 | 9,993 | 46.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Philidor Defense a good opening for beginners?
Yes — it's a solid, principled opening that avoids early tactical traps. After 4.dxe5 you get a clear, open position where you develop naturally and fight for the centre. The stats are encouraging: Black wins 48.6% of games from this position, and many of White's natural-looking moves are actually mistakes.
How do I punish White's Nxe5 blunder in the dxe5 line?
If White plays 5.Nxe5, they are trying to win your e5-pawn, but your knight on d7 defends it. You simply recapture with 5...Nxe5, and now White's knight is gone for only a pawn. White cannot recapture because ...Nxe5 would hang their knight. You come out a full piece up.
What is Black's main plan after Bc4 Bb4+ c3 Bd6?
Develop your kingside: bring the knight to f6, castle short, and then decide if you want to advance with ...f5 or keep the centre closed. Your bishop pair and active pieces give you good counterplay. White's c2-c3 has slightly weakened the d3-square, a potential outpost for your pieces later.
Why does Black have a higher win rate than White if the position favours White?
The engine gives White a small edge (+0.49), but human play is different. Many White players choose inaccurate moves like Bb5, Bg5, or even the blunder Nxe5. White scores well under 50% from those moves. Even the best move Bc4 only scores 50.8% for White. The position is easier for Black to play in practice.