The Hungarian Opening is 1.: you clear g2 for 2., putting your light-squared bishop on the long diagonal, aimed at the center and at b7. You score 51% with it across 349,298 Lichess games between players rated 900 to 1700, using September 2026 data. Strong players continue 2. 3. 4. 5.: bishop out, king tucked in behind it, and the d-pawn ready to fight for e4.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
20 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1., opponents at your level answer in 35 games out of 100 and in 29. Above 2200 online the order flips: rises to 38 in 100, reaches 17 and drops to 10. Against hardly anyone hesitates: 2. comes in 87 games out of 100 at your level and 72 among strong players. The paths split after . At your level the most popular move is 3., 21 in 100, ahead of 3. at 19 and 3. at 18. Strong players prefer 3., 34 in 100, then 3., 28, and 3., 17. After 3., opponents at your level bring out in 36 games out of 100, while strong players choose in 26.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.3% | 50.8% | 9.8% | 19.2% | |
| 29.5% | 51.1% | 37.7% | 39.7% | |
| 6.8% | 52.8% | no data | no data | |
| 5.3% | 52.0% | 4.1% | no data | |
| 5.0% | 50.9% | 7.1% | 12.8% | |
| 4.2% | 51.3% | 17.4% | 16.7% | |
| no data | no data | 9.7% | 11.5% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87.1% | 51.5% | 72.4% | 42.3% | |
| 2.6% | 50.8% | no data | no data | |
| 2.3% | 51.3% | 1.5% | no data | |
| 1.8% | 51.2% | 10.7% | 57.7% | |
| 1.5% | 50.6% | no data | no data | |
| 1.0% | 50.8% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 6.1% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 4.3% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 2.6% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29.2% | 50.4% | 15.5% | 45.5% | |
| 26.5% | 51.3% | 33.9% | 54.5% | |
| 13.6% | 52.5% | 7.3% | no data | |
| 11.1% | 52.2% | 26.8% | no data | |
| 6.0% | 51.1% | 2.6% | no data | |
| 4.7% | 51.4% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 7.6% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21.2% | 51.3% | 3.9% | no data | |
| 19.0% | 51.2% | 33.9% | no data | |
| 17.9% | 51.4% | 28.1% | no data | |
| 15.6% | 51.6% | 5.1% | no data | |
| 9.0% | 51.1% | 4.6% | no data | |
| 4.6% | 55.1% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 17.4% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.5% | 51.4% | no data | no data | |
| 17.1% | 53.3% | 26.5% | 61.4% | |
| 11.0% | 49.8% | 13.6% | 3.0% | |
| 9.5% | 49.4% | 5.0% | 1.4% | |
| 6.6% | 48.6% | 15.7% | 16.4% | |
| 6.5% | 55.8% | 20.8% | 12.5% | |
| no data | no data | 12.4% | 5.3% |
Everything in this opening revolves around the g2 square. 1. clears that square and 2. puts your light-squared bishop there, on the long diagonal running from h1 to a8. Among players rated over 2200 online, the bishop lands on g2 in 96 games out of 100. You castle short behind it, and then the d-pawn steps forward to contest e4. The strong-player line, 2. 3. 4. 5., follows exactly that order. Your results with it hardly depend on rating: whichever band you're in between 900 and 1700, you score 51 in 100.
After , 2. hits the d5 pawn through f3 and e4, which are both empty. Its only defender is the queen on d8, so adds a second one and also covers e4, the central square on your diagonal. 3. covers e5 and d4 and clears the way between your king and the h1 rook. With the knight on f3, the e7 pawn can no longer land on e5 without hanging. props up d5 with a pawn: your bishop now runs into a pawn with three defenders, and your opponent's f8 bishop gets e7 to come out. 4. puts your king on g1, shielded by the f2, g3 and h2 pawns and by the g2 bishop. gets your opponent ready to castle. After 4., 67 strong players in 100 choose it; at your level, 21 do. 5. rounds off the sequence: the pawn covers e4, prepares to push the e-pawn there to hit d5, and opens the diagonal for your c1 bishop all the way to h6.
Five of the six mistakes on this page share one root: you let your opponent set up pawns on d5 and e5. After , 3. leaves e5 unguarded and allows . That's why 3. comes before anything else. The same logic holds against : 3. covers e5 before can arrive, while 3. leaves the square free for it. Against , which is what you'll face most, the square to watch is d5, and the c-pawn does that job: 2., or 3. if you've already played 2., hits d5 before your opponent's pawn can get there. With a pawn on c4, your g2 bishop keeps its view down the diagonal instead of staring at a pawn on d5.
Plan played in 93% of the 53 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
Online, 2200+: 96.4% of 12,155. Over the board, 2300+: 92.5% of 53; the alternative, : 0.1% and 0.0%; the alternative, : 0.0% and 0.0%; the alternative, : 0.1% and 0.0%; the alternative, : 0.1% and 0.0%.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 15,506 | 37.7% | |
| 5,834 | 72.3% | |
| 4,204 | 33.9% | |
| 1,933 | 33.9% | |
| 10,295 | 27.9% | |
| 5,781 | 88.8% | |
| 5,010 | 67.4% | |
| 3,336 | 42.2% |
After 2. , 3. lets kick your f3 knight, which heads back with 4.. Your opponent props up that pawn with and, after 5., with before 6.. 46 in 100 play it. At your level it goes unpunished: you score 46.5 with it and 45.3 with 3..
46 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 46.5%; scores 45.3%.
After 2. , 3. leaves e5 unguarded and your opponent takes it: 4. 5. 6.. Your knight arrives too late, since the d6 bishop already defends e5. 21 in 100 play it. At your level it makes no difference: you score 51.3, against 51.2 with 3..
21 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.3%; scores 51.2%.
After 2. , 3. leaves d5 unwatched. With your opponent gets pawns on d5 and e5, and after 4. the d5 pawn has two defenders against your g2 bishop. Play goes on 5. 6.. 20 in 100 play it. At your level it often goes unpunished: you score 50.1, against 52.2 with 3..
20 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.9 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.1%; scores 52.2%.
Against 2. , 3. runs into the same d5 problem. Your opponent goes 4. 5. 6.: pawns on d5 and e5, the d6 bishop holding e5 and the king already castled. 21 in 100 play it. At your level it often goes unpunished: you score 49, against 51.7 with 3..
22 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.0%; scores 51.7%.
After , 2. gets the bishop ready for b2 to hit e5, but does nothing about d5. After 3. 4., the c6 knight already guards e5, and your opponent carries on with before 5.. 3 in 100 play it. This one shows: you score 49.3, against 54.3 with 2..
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 49.3%; scores 54.3%.
After 2. , 3. leaves e5 unguarded, and builds a pawn chain on c6, d5 and e5. After 4. 5. 6., the d6 bishop is already holding e5 against your knight. 16 in 100 play it. At your level it often goes unpunished: you score 51.1, against 52.8 with 3., which covers e5 in time.
16 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.1%; scores 52.8%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 163,249 | ||
| Not castled | 44,112 | |
| Not castled | 40,437 | |
| 33,730 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 31,919 |
| 16,003 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | ||
| Not castled | Not castled | 3 |
| Not castled | 3 | |
| Not castled | 2 | |
| Not castled | 1 |
1. 2. · 22,975 amateur games
After 2., backs up d5 with a pawn; you score 52 in 100 across 22,975 games.
1. 2. · 22,520 amateur games
defends d5 and frees the f8 bishop; you score 52 out of 100.
1. · 14,983 amateur games · 4 over the board
covers d4 and leaves your diagonal open up to b7; 14,983 games, 51 in 100 for you.
1. · 14,705 amateur games · 9 over the board
With your opponent borrows your idea and readies a bishop for g7; you score 51 in 100.
1. · 14,092 amateur games · 10 over the board
covers d5 and e4, two squares on your diagonal; 14,092 games.
1. 2. · 4,625 amateur games
After 2., adds a c5 pawn next to d5 and covers d4; 4,625 games.
1. 2. · 3,496 amateur games · 3 over the board
After 2., your knight hits e5, yet you score only 48 in 100 across 3,496 games.
1. · A00
2,446 amateur games · White's score: 53.8%
1. · A00
834 amateur games · White's score: 59.5%
1. 2. 3. · A00
130 amateur games · White's score: 46.9%
1. 2. 3. · A00
47 amateur games · White's score: 37.2%
1. 2. · A00
21 amateur games · White's score: 47.6%
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00
17 amateur games · White's score: 47.1%
1. 2. · A07
5 amateur games · White's score: 60.0%
1. 2. 3. · A00
2 amateur games · White's score: 100.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · A00
1 amateur game · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · A00
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · A00
1. 2. 3. 4. · A00