Chess opening · ECO B00
Hippopotamus Defense
The Hippopotamus Defense starts 1. e4 Nh6. It ranks #168 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... Nh6Black develops the kingside knight to h6.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. d4 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | d4 50% | Nf3 31% | Bc4 19% |
| 1400–1599 | d4 78% | Nf3 22% | – |
| 1600–1799 | d4 80% | Nf3 20% | – |
| 1800–1999 | d4 100% | – | – |
Related openings
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