Prepare against Axel Stephan
DEU · World #6,985 classical · FIDE ID 4632834
When preparing against Axel Stephan, expect 1.e4 in 60% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (72% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (70%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Indian Defense as Black, 31.3% over 16 games.
Our database contains 418 games by Axel Stephan, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Axel Stephan's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Axel Stephan 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 | 2,225 | 2,291 | Apr 2007 |
| Rapid | 2,160 | 2,233 | Dec 2016 |
| Blitz | 2,220 | 2,220 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 418 | 167 | 102 | 149 | 40.0% |
| As White | 201 | 91 | 48 | 62 | 45.3% |
| As Black | 217 | 76 | 54 | 87 | 35.0% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Axel Stephan's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Axel Stephan's side.
First moves as White (201 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 120 | 59.7% | 57.5% |
| Nf3 | 54 | 26.9% | 49.1% |
| d4 | 16 | 8.0% | 68.8% |
| c4 | 9 | 4.5% | 72.2% |
| b3 | 1 | 0.5% | 100.0% |
| b4 | 1 | 0.5% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 60% of White games, 57.5% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Stephan usually continues Nc3 (60.9% score)
- …e5 (18% of these games) — Stephan usually continues Nf3 (55.9% score)
- …e6 (13% of these games) — Stephan usually continues d3 (72.2% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 27% of White games, 49.1% score
- …Nf6 (41% of these games) — Stephan usually continues g3 (53.6% score)
- …d5 (33% of these games) — Stephan usually continues g3 (32.1% score)
- …g6 (11% of these games) — Stephan usually continues c4 (66.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (93 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 67 | 72.0% | 42.5% |
| e6 | 14 | 15.1% | 57.1% |
| d5 | 6 | 6.5% | 25.0% |
| e5 | 4 | 4.3% | 12.5% |
| g6 | 2 | 2.2% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (83 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 58 | 69.9% | 47.4% |
| g6 | 19 | 22.9% | 52.6% |
| f5 | 3 | 3.6% | 83.3% |
| c5 | 1 | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| e6 | 1 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
| d5 | 1 | 1.2% | 0.0% |
Axel Stephan's chess games
All 418 games by Axel Stephan in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Jul 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: 167 wins, 102 draws, 149 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 28 | 15/3/10 | 53.6% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 27 | 11/4/12 | 40.7% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 9 | 5/3/1 | 55.6% |
| B40 | Sicilian | 8 | 1/1/6 | 12.5% |
| A13 | English Opening | 7 | 3/2/2 | 42.9% |
| A42 | Modern Defense | 7 | 2/3/2 | 28.6% |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| B10 | Caro-Kann | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 5 | 1/2/2 | 20.0% |
| C22 | Center Game | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B42 | Sicilian | 28 | 9/5/14 | 32.1% |
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 26 | 11/6/9 | 42.3% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 17 | 6/7/4 | 35.3% |
| B80 | Sicilian: Scheveningen | 16 | 6/3/7 | 37.5% |
| E68 | Indian Defense | 16 | 5/3/8 | 31.3% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 9 | 2/4/3 | 22.2% |
| A40 | Queen's Pawn Game | 8 | 4/1/3 | 50.0% |
| A29 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 7 | 5/1/1 | 71.4% |
| A13 | English Opening | 7 | 4/1/2 | 57.1% |
| A48 | King's Indian Defense | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2013 | Joseph Sanchez | 2,547 | San Bernardino Open | B80 |
| Dec 2016 | Jon S Speelman | 2,526 | 8th London Classic Super rapid | D90 |
| Aug 2001 | Mikhail M Ivanov | 2,446 | Schwarzach Open A | B34 |
| Jan 1997 | Dieter Pirrot | 2,410 | Biel MTO Open | C22 |
| Jan 1994 | Jacek Dubiel | 2,400 | Dresden U20 | B84 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzach Open A | 2009 | 22 | 12 | 2,316 |
| ch-Hamburg A U18 | 1993 | 11 | 7.5 | 2,340 |
| 15th LCC Super Rapid | 2025 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,099 |
| Oberliga Nord N 9293 | 1993 | 9 | 5 | 2,239 |
| 18th Schwarzach Open A | 2003 | 9 | 5 | 2,333 |
| 4th London Classic Open | 2012 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,280 |
| London Classic Open | 2009 | 9 | 5 | 2,346 |
| 8th Gibraltar Masters | 2010 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,276 |
Interactive opening tree from all 418 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Axel Stephan's chess games?
418 games by Axel Stephan, from Apr 2003 to Jul 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 Axel Stephan has played.
What does Axel Stephan play on the first move as White?
Across 201 games with White in our database, Axel Stephan opens with 1.e4 (60% of games), 1.Nf3 (27% of games), 1.d4 (8% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Axel Stephan answers 1...c5 (72% of games), 1...e6 (15% of games), 1...d5 (6% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (70% of games), 1...g6 (23% of games), 1...f5 (4% of games).
What openings does Axel Stephan play as White?
As White, Axel Stephan's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Closed (28 games, 53.6% win rate); Réti Opening (27 games, 40.7% win rate); King's Indian Attack (9 games, 55.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 201 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Axel Stephan play as Black?
As Black, Axel Stephan most often plays: Sicilian (28 games, 32.1% win rate); Grünfeld Defense (26 games, 42.3% win rate); Modern Defense (17 games, 35.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 217 games.
What is Axel Stephan's FIDE rating?
Axel Stephan is currently rated 2,225 in classical chess, 2,160 in rapid and 2,220 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,291 (Apr 2007).
How many games has Axel Stephan played?
Our database contains 418 games by Axel Stephan, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 167 wins, 102 draws, 149 losses (40.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Axel Stephan?
418 games by Axel Stephan 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.