Prepare against Edward Formanek
IM · United States · World #39,388 classical · FIDE ID 2001640
When preparing against Edward Formanek, expect 1.e4 in 64% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (49% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (52%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Réti Opening as Black, 6.7% over 15 games.
Our database contains 693 games by Edward Formanek, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Edward Formanek's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Edward Formanek 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 | 1,938 | 2,319 | Apr 2003 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 693 | 245 | 199 | 247 | 35.4% |
| As White | 355 | 139 | 98 | 116 | 39.2% |
| As Black | 338 | 106 | 101 | 131 | 31.4% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Edward Formanek's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Edward Formanek's side.
First moves as White (355 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 228 | 64.2% | 54.4% |
| d4 | 119 | 33.5% | 50.8% |
| c4 | 7 | 2.0% | 64.3% |
| Nf3 | 1 | 0.3% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 64% of White games, 54.4% score
- …c5 (49% of these games) — Formanek usually continues Nf3 (49.5% score)
- …e5 (17% of these games) — Formanek usually continues Nf3 (56.5% score)
- …e6 (14% of these games) — Formanek usually continues d4 (62.9% score)
- 1.d4 — 34% of White games, 50.8% score
- …Nf6 (64% of these games) — Formanek usually continues c4 (50.7% score)
- …d5 (24% of these games) — Formanek usually continues c4 (55.2% score)
- …e6 (6% of these games) — Formanek usually continues e4 (33.3% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (166 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 81 | 48.8% | 58.6% |
| c5 | 37 | 22.3% | 37.8% |
| e5 | 28 | 16.9% | 42.9% |
| Nc6 | 15 | 9.0% | 53.3% |
| c6 | 3 | 1.8% | 33.3% |
| d5 | 1 | 0.6% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (113 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 59 | 52.2% | 34.7% |
| Nf6 | 37 | 32.7% | 50.0% |
| f5 | 11 | 9.7% | 31.8% |
| g6 | 5 | 4.4% | 40.0% |
| e6 | 1 | 0.9% | 100.0% |
Edward Formanek's chess games
All 693 games by Edward Formanek 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: 245 wins, 199 draws, 247 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B22 | Sicilian | 41 | 15/12/14 | 36.6% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 20 | 7/6/7 | 35.0% |
| B93 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 18 | 7/6/5 | 38.9% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 12 | 2/3/7 | 16.7% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 11 | 3/6/1 | 27.3% |
| D19 | Slav Defense | 11 | 4/2/5 | 36.4% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 11 | 3/3/4 | 27.3% |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian: Kmoch Variation | 11 | 2/3/6 | 18.2% |
| B10 | Caro-Kann | 10 | 3/5/2 | 30.0% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 10 | 3/2/5 | 30.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C16 | French: Winawer Variation | 43 | 19/10/14 | 44.2% |
| D12 | Slav Defense | 42 | 5/15/22 | 11.9% |
| C04 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 17 | 7/2/8 | 41.2% |
| B33 | Sicilian | 17 | 5/6/6 | 29.4% |
| A09 | Réti Opening | 15 | 1/7/7 | 6.7% |
| A48 | Indian Defense | 14 | 4/5/5 | 28.6% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 12 | 3/5/4 | 25.0% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 11 | 2/3/6 | 18.2% |
| A21 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 10 | 5/4/1 | 50.0% |
| D07 | Queen's Gambit | 10 | 4/3/3 | 40.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1978 | Oscar Panno | 2,580 | Lone Pine Open Louis D. Statham Masters | B14 |
| Jan 1994 | Valentin Arbakov | 2,575 | 5th Philadelphia Int | B67 |
| Jan 1982 | Rafael A Vaganian | 2,550 | Reggio Emilia-24 1881/82 | D18 |
| Jan 1994 | Sergey Kudrin | 2,550 | Reno Open | B00 |
| Jan 1995 | Paul Van der Sterren | 2,545 | Antwerp Open | D07 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Pine Open Louis D. Statham Masters | 1979 | 33 | 16 | 2,434 |
| New York Open | 2000 | 27 | 11.5 | 2,384 |
| Las Vegas National Open | 2015 | 21 | 9.5 | 2,324 |
| London Phillips&Drew Knights | 1982 | 14 | 6.5 | 2,318 |
| Chicago Open | 1997 | 14 | 7.5 | 2,350 |
| Christmas Congress 1985/86-61 Premier | 1986 | 13 | 2 | 2,189 |
| Beersheba | 1978 | 13 | 4.5 | 2,364 |
| Reggio Emilia-24 1881/82 | 1982 | 13 | 8 | 2,454 |
Interactive opening tree from all 693 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Edward Formanek's chess games?
693 games by Edward Formanek, 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 Edward Formanek has played.
What does Edward Formanek play on the first move as White?
Across 355 games with White in our database, Edward Formanek opens with 1.e4 (64% of games), 1.d4 (34% of games), 1.c4 (2% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Edward Formanek answers 1...e6 (49% of games), 1...c5 (22% of games), 1...e5 (17% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (52% of games), 1...Nf6 (33% of games), 1...f5 (10% of games).
What openings does Edward Formanek play as White?
As White, Edward Formanek's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (41 games, 36.6% win rate); French: Advance Variation (20 games, 35.0% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (18 games, 38.9% win rate). The full breakdown of 355 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Edward Formanek play as Black?
As Black, Edward Formanek most often plays: French: Winawer Variation (43 games, 44.2% win rate); Slav Defense (42 games, 11.9% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (17 games, 41.2% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 338 games.
What is Edward Formanek's FIDE rating?
Edward Formanek is currently rated 1,938 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,319 (Apr 2003).
How many games has Edward Formanek played?
Our database contains 693 games by Edward Formanek, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 245 wins, 199 draws, 247 losses (35.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Edward Formanek?
693 games by Edward Formanek 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.