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Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation

8.2K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

53.1%

45%60%
Floor52.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 54.0%.

Measured over 8.2K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 8.2K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
8.2K
Best context
56.7% at 2200-2499 Blitz
Worst context
49.2% at 1800-1999 Blitz
Average game length
32 moves
Games that end decisively
96.7%
Draws
3.3%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 59.0% at 0-999, 64.5% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799—
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499——
2500+———

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (37 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 62.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 58.5% expected score (22 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 46.2% expected score (51 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 64.1% expected score (229 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (74 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (140 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 56.2% expected score (331 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (193 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 55.1% expected score (127 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (437 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (265 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (24 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 56.6% expected score (197 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 52.0% expected score (744 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (308 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 62.4% expected score (43 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 83.4% expected score (3 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (346 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 49.2% expected score (1,262 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 53.1% expected score (366 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.5% expected score (13 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.6% expected score (336 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.3% expected score (1,126 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.0% expected score (197 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.6% expected score (13 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (507 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 56.7% expected score (514 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.4% expected score (60 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 60.4% expected score (143 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 68.5% expected score (31 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Philidor Defense
50.2%
Variations (5)
Philidor Defense: Exchange Variation
50.5%
Philidor Defense: Lion Variation
45.8%
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation
46.9%
Philidor Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
53.4%
Philidor Defense: Morphy Gambit
51.7%
Analyze Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation scores 53.1% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 52.2% and 54.0% — from 8.2K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
8.2K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate?

Playing the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation, White wins 51.4%, draws 3.3% and loses 45.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 8.2K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation perform best?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 62.0% (174 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation scores about the same in both: an Expected Score of 52.8% in Blitz (4.7K games) against 53.1% in Rapid (1.5K games).

How sharp is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation has a sharpness score of 96.7 (very decisive), meaning 96.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, White wins 59.1%, draws 1.9% and loses 39.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 60.1%. It rests on 133 Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 58.2%, draws 2.6% and loses 39.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.6%. It rests on 360 Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 54.6%, draws 2.6% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.9%. It rests on 671 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 53.1%, draws 2.6% and loses 44.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.4%. It rests on 855 Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.0% and loses 45.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.6%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 48.6%, draws 3.0% and loses 48.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 2.0K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 48.7%, draws 3.3% and loses 48.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.4%. It rests on 1.7K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.3%, draws 5.0% and loses 41.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.9%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 58.4%, draws 7.1% and loses 34.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 62.0%. It rests on 174 Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 52.2%, draws 2.6% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.5%. It rests on 1.9K Lichess games.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.4% and loses 45.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 52.8%. It rests on 4.7K Lichess games.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 51.1%, draws 3.9% and loses 45.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.1%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 57.3%, draws 0.5% and loses 42.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.6%. It rests on 104 Lichess games.

Is the Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation a good opening?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham, Kmoch Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 51.4% of its games and loses 45.3%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.