Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation

750K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score49.0%Range (90% confident): 48.9% – 49.1%Based on 750K games
0%49.0%100%
Range (90% confident): 48.9% – 49.1%
Outcome Distribution
46.9%4.1%49.0%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...Nd7
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation
Analyzen=750K
Avg Length35 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.1%

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 49.0% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 48.9% and 49.1%), based on 750K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 48% → 52%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.1% win rate (17,037 games)
  • 1000-1199: 49.2% win rate (40,780 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.0% win rate (78,087 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.0% win rate (124,690 games)
  • 1600-1799: 45.9% win rate (167,679 games)
  • 1800-1999: 46.0% win rate (166,436 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.8% win rate (102,779 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.9% win rate (46,794 games)
  • 2500+: 51.8% win rate (5,815 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (52%), worst in UltraBullet (45%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 45.1% win rate (672 games)
  • Bullet: 45.5% win rate (200,757 games)
  • Blitz: 46.9% win rate (407,795 games)
  • Rapid: 48.7% win rate (133,287 games)
  • Classical: 52.2% win rate (7,586 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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, UltraBullet: 45.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 49.1% expected score (4,495 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (9,649 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (2,871 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 43.1% expected score (13 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 69.5% expected score (37 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (8,797 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.6% expected score (23,120 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.7% expected score (8,703 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 52.0% expected score (123 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 43.1% expected score (78 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 46.7% expected score (16,283 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (40,863 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.6% expected score (20,236 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 51.9% expected score (627 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 33.0% expected score (107 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (26,625 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.8% expected score (65,123 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.1% expected score (30,438 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 52.9% expected score (2,397 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.6% expected score (93 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 45.5% expected score (37,589 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.9% expected score (96,016 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (31,019 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 56.4% expected score (2,962 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.4% expected score (116 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (42,280 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (97,938 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (24,996 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.4% expected score (1,106 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 40.3% expected score (101 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.8% expected score (33,573 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.7% expected score (56,107 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.5% expected score (12,675 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 61.0% expected score (323 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 48.8% expected score (119 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (26,284 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 54.5% expected score (18,051 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 58.4% expected score (2,309 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 60.8% expected score (31 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (12 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (4,831 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 62.6% expected score (928 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 74.1% expected score (40 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 86.4% expected score (4 games)

Related Openings

Analyze Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation win rate?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.0%) win rate for white, based on 750K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.8% win rate for white (5.8K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Classical (52.2%) outperforms UltraBullet (45.1%) by 7.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 35 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.4%-48.7%) win rate for white, based on 17K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.3% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 48.8%-49.6%) win rate for white, based on 41K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.7%-48.3%) win rate for white, based on 78K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.6% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 47.0% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 125K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 45.9% (90% CI: 45.7%-46.1%) win rate for white, based on 168K Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 46.0% (90% CI: 45.8%-46.2%) win rate for white, based on 166K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.3% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 46.5%-47.1%) win rate for white, based on 103K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 47K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 51.8% (90% CI: 50.7%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 5.8K Lichess games. Average game length is 40 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

What is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 45.1% (90% CI: 41.9%-48.2%) win rate for white (672 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.2%.

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

In Bullet games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 45.5% (90% CI: 45.3%-45.6%) win rate for white (201K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.9%.

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

In Blitz games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.1%) win rate for white (408K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.4%.

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

In Rapid games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.5%-49.0%) win rate for white (133K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

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

In Classical games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation has a 52.2% (90% CI: 51.3%-53.2%) win rate for white (7.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

Is the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation a good opening?

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation is statistically balanced with a 46.9% (90% CI: 46.8%-47.0%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.