Prepare against Aku Salonen
FM · Finland · World #4,046 classical · FIDE ID 517577
When preparing against Aku Salonen, expect 1.e4 in 71% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c6 (48% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (74%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian: Najdorf as Black, 31.6% over 19 games.
Our database contains 335 games by Aku Salonen, covering Jul 2019 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Aku Salonen's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Aku Salonen 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 | 2,301 | 2,330 | Jun 2025 |
| Rapid | 2,265 | 2,265 | Aug 2026 |
| Blitz | 2,331 | 2,354 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 335 | 162 | 56 | 117 | 48.4% |
| As White | 163 | 92 | 27 | 44 | 56.4% |
| As Black | 172 | 70 | 29 | 73 | 40.7% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Aku Salonen's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Aku Salonen's side.
First moves as White (163 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 116 | 71.2% | 65.9% |
| d4 | 40 | 24.5% | 62.5% |
| Nf3 | 5 | 3.1% | 40.0% |
| c4 | 2 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 71% of White games, 65.9% score
- …c5 (40% of these games) — Salonen usually continues Nf3 (68.5% score)
- …e5 (28% of these games) — Salonen usually continues Nf3 (65.6% score)
- …e6 (12% of these games) — Salonen usually continues d4 (64.3% score)
- 1.d4 — 25% of White games, 62.5% score
- …Nf6 (40% of these games) — Salonen usually continues c4 (75.0% score)
- …d5 (40% of these games) — Salonen usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
- …d6 (5% of these games) — Salonen usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (81 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c6 | 39 | 48.1% | 50.0% |
| c5 | 36 | 44.4% | 44.4% |
| e6 | 3 | 3.7% | 66.7% |
| g6 | 1 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
| e5 | 1 | 1.2% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (61 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 45 | 73.8% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 16 | 26.2% | 43.8% |
Aku Salonen's chess games
All 335 games by Aku Salonen in the Chess.ceo database (Jul 2019 - Aug 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: 162 wins, 56 draws, 117 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C77 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 20 | 14/1/5 | 70.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian | 17 | 9/6/2 | 52.9% |
| C07 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 12 | 5/6/1 | 41.7% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 10 | 7/0/3 | 70.0% |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 8 | 4/2/2 | 50.0% |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 7 | 6/1/0 | 85.7% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 6 | 4/0/2 | 66.7% |
| B45 | Sicilian: Four Knights | 5 | 3/0/2 | 60.0% |
| B27 | Sicilian: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 5 | 3/0/2 | 60.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 19 | 6/4/9 | 31.6% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 15 | 5/2/8 | 33.3% |
| E04 | Catalan | 12 | 2/4/6 | 16.7% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 11 | 5/3/3 | 45.5% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 8 | 2/2/4 | 25.0% |
| D00 | London System | 8 | 3/0/5 | 37.5% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 6 | 2/1/3 | 33.3% |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 6 | 1/1/4 | 16.7% |
| D38 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 6 | 2/0/4 | 33.3% |
| A05 | Sicilian | 6 | 3/0/3 | 50.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | Sam Shankland | 2,670 | Titled Tue Early | B13 |
| Jun 2025 | R Svane | 2,626 | Titled Tue Late | B13 |
| Jun 2025 | Rinat Jumabayev | 2,551 | Titled Tue Early | B40 |
| Jan 2025 | Ivan Ivanisevic | 2,540 | Titled Tue Late | A45 |
| Mar 2025 | Alvar Alonso Rosell | 2,535 | Titled Tue Early | D38 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2025 | 192 | 106.5 | 2,324 |
| chT-FIN 2025-26 | 2026 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,354 |
| Wch U16 | 2023 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,323 |
| TCh-FIN 2024-25 | 2025 | 10 | 5 | 2,231 |
| World Cup U14 Prel | 2021 | 10 | 4.5 | 1,807 |
| ch-EU Union U12 | 2019 | 9 | 4 | 1,188 |
| chT-FIN 2324 | 2024 | 9 | 5 | 2,286 |
| 31st Heart of Finland Open | 2023 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,137 |
Interactive opening tree from all 335 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Aku Salonen's chess games?
335 games by Aku Salonen, from Jul 2019 to Aug 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 Aku Salonen has played.
What does Aku Salonen play on the first move as White?
Across 163 games with White in our database, Aku Salonen opens with 1.e4 (71% of games), 1.d4 (25% of games), 1.Nf3 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Aku Salonen answers 1...c6 (48% of games), 1...c5 (44% of games), 1...e6 (4% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (74% of games), 1...d5 (26% of games).
What openings does Aku Salonen play as White?
As White, Aku Salonen's most-played openings in our database are: Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (20 games, 70.0% win rate); Sicilian (17 games, 52.9% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (12 games, 41.7% win rate). The full breakdown of 163 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Aku Salonen play as Black?
As Black, Aku Salonen most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (19 games, 31.6% win rate); Caro-Kann: Advance Variation (15 games, 33.3% win rate); Catalan (12 games, 16.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 172 games.
What is Aku Salonen's FIDE rating?
Aku Salonen is currently rated 2,301 in classical chess, 2,265 in rapid and 2,331 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,330 (Jun 2025).
How many games has Aku Salonen played?
Our database contains 335 games by Aku Salonen, covering Jul 2019 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 162 wins, 56 draws, 117 losses (48.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Aku Salonen?
335 games by Aku Salonen 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.