Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation

9.9K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Tough Sell
White Expected Score47.7%Range (90% confident): 46.8% – 48.5%Based on 9.9K games
0%47.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 46.8% – 48.5%
Outcome Distribution
45.4%4.6%50.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
6.dxe5
Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation
Analyzen=9.9K
Avg Length36 moves
Sharpness95%
Draw Rate4.6%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 47.7% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 46.8% and 48.5%), based on 9.9K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 53% → 60%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 52.9% win rate (24 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.7% win rate (98 games)
  • 1200-1399: 41.2% win rate (497 games)
  • 1400-1599: 42.8% win rate (769 games)
  • 1600-1799: 40.5% win rate (1,631 games)
  • 1800-1999: 41.9% win rate (2,551 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.7% win rate (2,255 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.4% win rate (1,747 games)
  • 2500+: 60.2% win rate (295 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (55%), worst in Bullet (43%)

Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • Bullet: 43.4% win rate (2,978 games)
  • Blitz: 45.6% win rate (5,574 games)
  • Rapid: 48.5% win rate (1,259 games)
  • Classical: 54.8% win rate (56 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, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 31.8% expected score (26 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 57.4% expected score (53 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 60.3% expected score (18 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 40.0% expected score (193 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 45.0% expected score (199 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 41.9% expected score (103 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 39.4% expected score (187 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 43.8% expected score (400 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (173 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 39.1% expected score (359 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 42.9% expected score (989 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 43.8% expected score (265 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (18 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 38.5% expected score (522 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.6% expected score (1,659 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (355 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (15 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.8% expected score (591 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.0% expected score (1,410 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 56.7% expected score (245 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 48.7% expected score (881 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 58.5% expected score (767 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 73.9% expected score (97 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 58.9% expected score (207 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 71.2% expected score (86 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 78.6% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.5%-46.2%) win rate for white, based on 9.9K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 60.2% win rate for white (295 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Rapid (48.5%) outperforms Bullet (43.4%) by 5.1%. Choose your time control wisely.

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

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a sharpness score of 95.4 (very decisive), meaning 95.4% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 41.2% (90% CI: 37.6%-44.9%) win rate for white, based on 497 Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 2.3% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 42.8% (90% CI: 39.8%-45.7%) win rate for white, based on 769 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 40.5% (90% CI: 38.5%-42.5%) win rate for white, based on 1.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 41.9% (90% CI: 40.3%-43.5%) win rate for white, based on 2.6K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 5.1% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 47.7% (90% CI: 45.9%-49.4%) win rate for white, based on 2.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 51.4% (90% CI: 49.4%-53.4%) win rate for white, based on 1.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 6.0% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 60.2% (90% CI: 55.5%-64.8%) win rate for white, based on 295 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 43.4% (90% CI: 41.9%-44.9%) win rate for white (3.0K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

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

In Blitz games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 45.6% (90% CI: 44.5%-46.7%) win rate for white (5.6K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

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

In Rapid games, the Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation has a 48.5% (90% CI: 46.2%-50.8%) win rate for white (1.3K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.8%.

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

The Philidor Defense: Hanham Variation, Steiner Variation is slightly favors black with a 45.4% (90% CI: 44.5%-46.2%) 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.