Prepare against George Zhao
CM · United Kingdom · World #17,499 classical · FIDE ID 494607
When preparing against George Zhao, expect 1.d4 in 97% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (87% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (82%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: French: Tarrasch Variation as Black, 20.0% over 15 games.
Our database contains 287 games by George Zhao, covering Oct 2021 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find George Zhao's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout George Zhao 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 | 2,080 | 2,233 | Nov 2024 |
| Rapid | 2,014 | 2,014 | Sep 2026 |
| Blitz | 2,171 | 2,171 | Sep 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 287 | 128 | 48 | 111 | 44.6% |
| As White | 140 | 74 | 24 | 42 | 52.9% |
| As Black | 147 | 54 | 24 | 69 | 36.7% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of George Zhao's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from George Zhao's side.
First moves as White (140 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 136 | 97.1% | 61.4% |
| Nf3 | 2 | 1.4% | 50.0% |
| b3 | 2 | 1.4% | 75.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 97% of White games, 61.4% score
- …Nf6 (54% of these games) — Zhao usually continues c4 (53.0% score)
- …d5 (27% of these games) — Zhao usually continues c4 (68.5% score)
- …e6 (4% of these games) — Zhao usually continues c4 (75.0% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 1% of White games, 50.0% score
- …d5 (50% of these games) — Zhao usually continues d4 (100.0% score)
- …Nf6 (50% of these games) — Zhao usually continues d4 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (82 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 71 | 86.6% | 46.5% |
| c5 | 10 | 12.2% | 45.0% |
| e5 | 1 | 1.2% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (39 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 32 | 82.1% | 43.8% |
| d5 | 6 | 15.4% | 33.3% |
| Nf6 | 1 | 2.6% | 100.0% |
George Zhao's chess games
All 287 games by George Zhao in the Chess.ceo database (Oct 2021 - 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: 128 wins, 48 draws, 111 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E04 | Catalan | 40 | 18/10/12 | 45.0% |
| E62 | King's Indian Defense | 16 | 6/2/8 | 37.5% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 13 | 11/1/1 | 84.6% |
| D02 | Indian Defense | 13 | 5/1/7 | 38.5% |
| D11 | Slav Defense | 11 | 8/0/3 | 72.7% |
| E62 | King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation | 10 | 5/2/3 | 50.0% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| A59 | Benoni Defense | 4 | 2/2/0 | 50.0% |
| D20 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 4 | 4/0/0 | 100.0% |
| A90 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 22 | 12/2/8 | 54.5% |
| C07 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 15 | 3/3/9 | 20.0% |
| C00 | French Defense | 12 | 3/2/7 | 25.0% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 11 | 1/3/7 | 9.1% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 10 | 6/1/3 | 60.0% |
| E04 | Catalan | 7 | 4/2/1 | 57.1% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 7 | 3/2/2 | 42.9% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 6 | 2/0/4 | 33.3% |
| A40 | Horwitz Defense | 6 | 3/1/2 | 50.0% |
| C15 | French: Winawer Variation | 5 | 4/0/1 | 80.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2024 | Marsel Efroimski | 2,397 | LCC Superblitz GpB | C15 |
| Aug 2026 | Mark Heidenfeld | 2,298 | 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sun) | A41 |
| Aug 2026 | Billy Fellowes | 2,281 | 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sat) | A06 |
| Aug 2026 | David Henry Maycock Bates | 2,281 | VI Mindsports Int Open | C11 |
| Jun 2025 | Killian Delaney | 2,275 | FIDE World Bl Team Pool A | C02 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wch U10 blitz | 2023 | 13 | 5 | 1,332 |
| FIDE World Rapid Team | 2025 | 12 | 5 | 2,008 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sat) | 2026 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,134 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Blitz (Sun) | 2026 | 11 | 8 | 2,197 |
| British Rapidplay | 2024 | 11 | 6.5 | 1,972 |
| FIDE World Bl Team Pool A | 2025 | 10 | 4 | 2,324 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Open | 2026 | 10 | 4.5 | 2,043 |
| Wch U10 rapid | 2023 | 10 | 3 | 1,142 |
Interactive opening tree from all 287 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find George Zhao's chess games?
287 games by George Zhao, from Oct 2021 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 George Zhao has played.
What does George Zhao play on the first move as White?
Across 140 games with White in our database, George Zhao opens with 1.d4 (97% of games), 1.Nf3 (1% of games), 1.b3 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, George Zhao answers 1...e6 (87% of games), 1...c5 (12% of games), 1...e5 (1% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (82% of games), 1...d5 (15% of games), 1...Nf6 (3% of games).
What openings does George Zhao play as White?
As White, George Zhao's most-played openings in our database are: Catalan (40 games, 45.0% win rate); King's Indian Defense (16 games, 37.5% win rate); Queen's Pawn Game (13 games, 84.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 140 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does George Zhao play as Black?
As Black, George Zhao most often plays: French: Advance Variation (22 games, 54.5% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (15 games, 20.0% win rate); French Defense (12 games, 25.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 147 games.
What is George Zhao's FIDE rating?
George Zhao is currently rated 2,080 in classical chess, 2,014 in rapid and 2,171 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,233 (Nov 2024).
How many games has George Zhao played?
Our database contains 287 games by George Zhao, covering Oct 2021 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 128 wins, 48 draws, 111 losses (44.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against George Zhao?
287 games by George Zhao 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.