Prepare against Akira Watanabe
FM · Japan · World #7,981 classical · FIDE ID 7000227
When preparing against Akira Watanabe, expect 1.d4 in 94% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (63%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian as Black, 18.8% over 16 games.
Our database contains 311 games by Akira Watanabe, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Akira Watanabe's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Akira Watanabe before a game. You can open the same data in the free interactive preparation workstation, which builds a move-by-move opening tree from every game.
Ratings
| Time control | Current | Peak | Peak date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 2,206 | 2,365 | Jan 2006 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 311 | 115 | 57 | 139 | 37.0% |
| As White | 161 | 67 | 31 | 63 | 41.6% |
| As Black | 150 | 48 | 26 | 76 | 32.0% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Akira Watanabe's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Akira Watanabe's side.
First moves as White (161 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 151 | 93.8% | 52.6% |
| e4 | 9 | 5.6% | 27.8% |
| Nf3 | 1 | 0.6% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 94% of White games, 52.6% score
- …Nf6 (56% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues c4 (54.7% score)
- …d5 (28% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues c4 (53.8% score)
- …e6 (5% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues c4 (64.3% score)
- 1.e4 — 6% of White games, 27.8% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues Nf3 (25.0% score)
- …e5 (22% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues Nf3 (25.0% score)
- …e6 (11% of these games) — Watanabe usually continues d4 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (73 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 73 | 100.0% | 49.3% |
As Black against 1.d4 (46 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 29 | 63.0% | 25.9% |
| d5 | 16 | 34.8% | 43.8% |
Akira Watanabe's chess games
All 311 games by Akira Watanabe in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Sep 2026) are free to browse, search and replay: filter by opening, opponent, event or date on the player page, or step through any game on the analysis board. Record: 115 wins, 57 draws, 139 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E48 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 33 | 12/4/17 | 36.4% |
| E97 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 25 | 12/3/10 | 48.0% |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 24 | 9/5/10 | 37.5% |
| D85 | Indian Defense | 20 | 7/6/7 | 35.0% |
| A59 | Benoni Defense | 11 | 8/1/2 | 72.7% |
| D32 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 6 | 3/3/0 | 50.0% |
| A21 | Modern Defense | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| A81 | Dutch Defense | 6 | 3/0/3 | 50.0% |
| D20 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A40 | Horwitz Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 35 | 13/7/15 | 37.1% |
| B20 | Sicilian | 16 | 3/3/10 | 18.8% |
| D36 | Indian Defense | 11 | 0/1/10 | 0.0% |
| A15 | English Opening | 10 | 2/1/7 | 20.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 9 | 3/3/3 | 33.3% |
| E81 | King's Indian: Sämisch | 7 | 1/3/3 | 14.3% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 7 | 4/1/2 | 57.1% |
| E92 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 7 | 2/2/3 | 28.6% |
| E05 | Catalan | 6 | 3/1/2 | 50.0% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 5 | 0/0/5 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2014 | Hans Tikkanen | 2,559 | Olympiad-41 | D30 |
| Dec 2000 | Alexander Volzhin | 2,556 | Carlos Torre Memorial Open 13th | E48 |
| Jan 1999 | Kevin Spraggett | 2,523 | 15th Cappelle Open | E94 |
| Oct 2000 | Ruben Gunawan | 2,503 | Olympiad-34 | E48 |
| Aug 2008 | Everaldo Matsuura | 2,463 | Sao Paulo Euwe 2nd | D30 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2026 | 90 | 33 | 2,038 |
| 30th Wch U20 | 1991 | 13 | 5.5 | 2,260 |
| Olympiad-34 | 2000 | 13 | 7.5 | 2,460 |
| Budapest FS03 IM | 1996 | 13 | 7.5 | 2,381 |
| Olympiad-31 | 1994 | 12 | 6 | 2,334 |
| Olympiad-32 | 1996 | 11 | 7 | 2,405 |
| 2nd 3-0 Thu 20th Aug 2026 | 2026 | 11 | 3 | 2,000 |
| Olympiad-41 | 2014 | 10 | 6.5 | 2,429 |
Interactive opening tree from all 311 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Akira Watanabe's chess games?
311 games by Akira Watanabe, from Apr 2003 to Sep 2026, are free to browse and replay move by move — no signup needed. The preparation view groups them into an opening tree showing every line Akira Watanabe has played.
What does Akira Watanabe play on the first move as White?
Across 161 games with White in our database, Akira Watanabe opens with 1.d4 (94% of games), 1.e4 (6% of games), 1.Nf3 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Akira Watanabe answers 1...c5 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (63% of games), 1...d5 (35% of games).
What openings does Akira Watanabe play as White?
As White, Akira Watanabe's most-played openings in our database are: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System (33 games, 36.4% win rate); King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation (25 games, 48.0% win rate); Slav Defense (24 games, 37.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 161 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Akira Watanabe play as Black?
As Black, Akira Watanabe most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (35 games, 37.1% win rate); Sicilian (16 games, 18.8% win rate); Indian Defense (11 games, 0.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 150 games.
What is Akira Watanabe's FIDE rating?
Akira Watanabe is currently rated 2,206 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,365 (Jan 2006).
How many games has Akira Watanabe played?
Our database contains 311 games by Akira Watanabe, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 115 wins, 57 draws, 139 losses (37.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Akira Watanabe?
311 games by Akira Watanabe reveal their opening repertoire, most-played lines, and the variations where they score worst — the raw material for targeted preparation. The interactive opening tree lets you walk every line to any depth.