Prepare against Ethan Samuels
ZAF · World #20,521 classical · FIDE ID 14321068
Our database contains 88 games by Ethan Samuels, covering May 2015 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Ethan Samuels's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ethan Samuels 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 | 2,053 | 2,053 | Jul 2026 |
| Rapid | 1,993 | 2,003 | Apr 2025 |
| Blitz | 1,981 | 1,981 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88 | 40 | 26 | 22 | 45.5% |
| As White | 44 | 23 | 13 | 8 | 52.3% |
| As Black | 44 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 38.6% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ethan Samuels's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ethan Samuels's side.
First moves as White (44 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 28 | 63.6% | 58.9% |
| d4 | 14 | 31.8% | 82.1% |
| Nc3 | 2 | 4.5% | 75.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 64% of White games, 58.9% score
- …c5 (54% of these games) — Samuels usually continues Nc3 (62.5% score)
- …e5 (21% of these games) — Samuels usually continues Nf3 (75.0% score)
- …e6 (18% of these games) — Samuels usually continues d4 (75.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 32% of White games, 82.1% score
- …Nf6 (71% of these games) — Samuels usually continues Nc3 (100.0% score)
- …d5 (21% of these games) — Samuels usually continues Nc3 (66.7% score)
- …f5 (7% of these games) — Samuels usually continues e4 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (23 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 16 | 69.6% | 46.9% |
| c6 | 4 | 17.4% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 2 | 8.7% | 25.0% |
| e5 | 1 | 4.3% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (15 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 8 | 53.3% | 56.3% |
| Nf6 | 7 | 46.7% | 71.4% |
Ethan Samuels's chess games
All 88 games by Ethan Samuels in the Chess.ceo database (May 2015 - 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: 40 wins, 26 draws, 22 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 8 | 4/2/2 | 50.0% |
| D00 | Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation | 6 | 5/0/1 | 83.3% |
| A45 | London System | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 4 | 2/2/0 | 50.0% |
| B09 | Pirc Defense | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| C13 | French: Classical Variation | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| C28 | Bishop's Opening | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A45 | Queen's Pawn Game | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A04 | Sicilian | 5 | 1/1/3 | 20.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
| E06 | Catalan | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B34 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| D00 | Indian Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| D02 | London System | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| E62 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A26 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2024 | Daniel Barrish | 2,281 | Kimberley Extravaganza Open | D00 |
| Sep 2024 | Joseph Handiya | 2,107 | Kimberley Extravaganza Open | D00 |
| Jan 2024 | Craig Glen Willenberg | 2,049 | Cape Town Open | D00 |
| Dec 2019 | Keegan Agulhas | 2,020 | ch-RSA U20 | B74 |
| Jan 2025 | Andrew McInnes | 1,931 | Cape Town Masters | B09 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South African Open | 2022 | 11 | 7 | 1,842 |
| ch-RSA Open | 2024 | 10 | 7 | 2,041 |
| ch-RSA U16 | 2017 | 9 | 5 | 1,571 |
| Cape Town Masters | 2025 | 9 | 4 | 1,913 |
| Kimberley Extravaganza Open | 2024 | 8 | 4 | 2,031 |
| ch-RSA U14 | 2015 | 8 | 5 | 1,580 |
| ch-RSA U20 | 2019 | 7 | 5.5 | 1,925 |
| chT-RSA U20 | 2020 | 6 | 4 | 1,740 |
Interactive opening tree from all 88 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ethan Samuels's chess games?
88 games by Ethan Samuels, from May 2015 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 Ethan Samuels has played.
What does Ethan Samuels play on the first move as White?
Across 44 games with White in our database, Ethan Samuels opens with 1.e4 (64% of games), 1.d4 (32% of games), 1.Nc3 (5% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ethan Samuels answers 1...c5 (70% of games), 1...c6 (17% of games), 1...d5 (9% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (53% of games), 1...Nf6 (47% of games).
What openings does Ethan Samuels play as White?
As White, Ethan Samuels's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Closed (8 games, 50.0% win rate); Queen's Pawn Game: Chigorin Variation (6 games, 83.3% win rate); London System (5 games, 60.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 44 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ethan Samuels play as Black?
As Black, Ethan Samuels most often plays: Sicilian (5 games, 20.0% win rate); Sicilian: Closed (4 games, 75.0% win rate); Catalan (4 games, 50.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 44 games.
What is Ethan Samuels's FIDE rating?
Ethan Samuels is currently rated 2,053 in classical chess, 1,993 in rapid and 1,981 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,053 (Jul 2026).
How many games has Ethan Samuels played?
Our database contains 88 games by Ethan Samuels, covering May 2015 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 40 wins, 26 draws, 22 losses (45.5% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ethan Samuels?
88 games by Ethan Samuels 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.