Hungarian Defense

Main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Bxd8 7.Nc3 Nf6

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

1. 1.e4 e4 stakes a claim in the center, freeing your bishop and queen for development. This move fights for space and is the most common way to begin an aggressive, open game.
2. 1...e5 This move immediately challenges White's central pawn on e4, establishing a balanced pawn structure. It helps Black control important central squares and opens lines for the queen and bishop to become active pieces.
3. 2.Nf3 Nf3 develops a piece toward the center, immediately contesting Black's e5 pawn. This move also prepares for kingside castling, bringing your king to safety while keeping your options open for future development.
4. 2...Nc6 This develops your knight toward the center and challenges White's pawn on e4, contesting the key central squares. It also prepares to follow up with moves like Bc5 or g6, keeping your opening options flexible.
5. 3.Bc4 This move develops the bishop to an active diagonal, targeting Black's vulnerable f7 pawn and reinforcing White's control over the central e5 square. It also prepares for kingside castling, getting the king to safety while keeping the rook connected.
6. 3...Be7 This move develops the bishop to a safe square, preparing to castle kingside and connect your rooks. It is a solid, non-committal choice that avoids any immediate tactical issues.
7. 4.d4 This move establishes a strong pawn center, opening lines for your bishop and queen. It challenges Black’s e5 pawn and fights for control of the important central squares.
8. 4...d6 This move stabilizes Black’s center by defending the e5 pawn and opening a path for the light-squared bishop. It also prepares to challenge White’s central pawn on d4, aiming for a solid and balanced position.
9. 5.dxe5 This captures Black's central pawn, opening the d-file for your pieces. It weakens Black's pawn structure and gains space in the center, creating more room for your bishops and queen to become active.
10. 5...dxe5 This move opens the center and challenges Black’s knight on c6, forcing it to move and disrupting its coordination. It also prepares to develop your light-squared bishop more actively and gain space in the center.
11. 6.Qxd8+ This move trades queens to simplify the position and expose Black's uncastled king. It also unpins your knight on f3, allowing you to develop freely.
12. 6...Bxd8 This captures a key defender and creates a discovered attack on Black’s undefended knight on c6. It disrupts Black’s coordination by removing the queen that was guarding both the knight and the e5 pawn, putting immediate pressure on the center.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Most played continuations (400-600 rating)

After 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4:

• Nf6 — played 44% of the time (White wins 53.5%, draws 5.5%, Black wins 41%)
• Bc5 — played 25.1% of the time (White wins 49.2%, draws 7.2%, Black wins 43.6%)
• d6 — played 5.4% of the time (White wins 51.5%, draws 6.6%, Black wins 41.9%)

Related openings

• Italian Game
• Evans Gambit
• Fried Liver Attack & Two Knights Defense
• Lolli Attack
• Jerome Gambit

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hungarian Defense passive?

Modest, not passive. Black concedes the centre for a move but keeps a completely healthy position with no weaknesses, and the bishop on e7 is not badly placed — it defends f6 and supports a later ...Nf6 or ...Bg5. The real criticism is that Black plays for equality rather than an advantage, which is a strategic choice rather than a mistake.

Why play the Hungarian instead of 3...Bc5 or 3...Nf6?

To dodge preparation. The Italian Game's most dangerous weapons — the Fried Liver, the Evans Gambit, the Two Knights complications — all need Black to play ...Bc5 or ...Nf6. After 3...Be7 none of them exist, so a well-prepared opponent's homework is worth nothing and the game becomes a normal fight from move four.

How does White try to get an advantage?

By taking space and playing against Black's slightly cramped position: d4, c3, and often Nbd2-f1-g3 to build up slowly rather than force matters. Trading queens early, as in the main line here, leads to an endgame where White's extra space is a small but lasting plus. Players wanting more usually avoid the queen trade and keep pieces on.