Prepare against Graham Bolt
United Kingdom · World #29,150 classical · FIDE ID 410438
When preparing against Graham Bolt, expect 1.e4 in 43% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...g6 (50% of games); against 1.d4, 1...g6 (57%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Grünfeld Defense as Black, 21.7% over 23 games.
Our database contains 450 games by Graham Bolt, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Graham Bolt's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Graham Bolt 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 | 1,991 | 2,118 | Jul 2008 |
| Rapid | 1,909 | 2,063 | Oct 2012 |
| Blitz | 1,941 | 2,063 | Oct 2012 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 450 | 151 | 150 | 149 | 33.6% |
| As White | 217 | 79 | 79 | 59 | 36.4% |
| As Black | 233 | 72 | 71 | 90 | 30.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Graham Bolt's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Graham Bolt's side.
First moves as White (217 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 93 | 42.9% | 54.8% |
| g3 | 70 | 32.3% | 55.7% |
| Nf3 | 52 | 24.0% | 53.8% |
| c4 | 1 | 0.5% | 50.0% |
| a3 | 1 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 43% of White games, 54.8% score
- …c5 (45% of these games) — Bolt usually continues Nf3 (58.8% score)
- …e5 (18% of these games) — Bolt usually continues Nf3 (58.8% score)
- …e6 (14% of these games) — Bolt usually continues d4 (53.8% score)
- 1.g3 — 32% of White games, 55.7% score
- …d5 (36% of these games) — Bolt usually continues Bg2 (52.0% score)
- …g6 (21% of these games) — Bolt usually continues Bg2 (66.7% score)
- …e5 (16% of these games) — Bolt usually continues Bg2 (54.5% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (106 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| g6 | 53 | 50.0% | 44.3% |
| c5 | 53 | 50.0% | 47.2% |
As Black against 1.d4 (87 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| g6 | 50 | 57.5% | 48.0% |
| Nf6 | 35 | 40.2% | 38.6% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.1% | 0.0% |
| f5 | 1 | 1.1% | 0.0% |
Graham Bolt's chess games
All 450 games by Graham Bolt in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - 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: 151 wins, 150 draws, 149 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 67 | 24/27/16 | 35.8% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 35 | 16/7/12 | 45.7% |
| B41 | Sicilian | 14 | 7/3/4 | 50.0% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 12 | 5/5/2 | 41.7% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 7 | 3/3/1 | 42.9% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 6 | 1/4/1 | 16.7% |
| B93 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 6 | 1/4/1 | 16.7% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 5 | 3/0/2 | 60.0% |
| B14 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| A07 | King's Indian Attack | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B06 | Modern Defense | 117 | 37/39/41 | 31.6% |
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 23 | 5/7/11 | 21.7% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Four Knights | 21 | 8/4/9 | 38.1% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 10 | 2/4/4 | 20.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 6 | 0/4/2 | 0.0% |
| D00 | Indian Defense | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
| A04 | Sicilian | 5 | 4/0/1 | 80.0% |
| A26 | English Opening | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2004 | Timothy J Upton | 2,285 | Gibraltar Masters | C45 |
| Oct 2009 | Guido Goessling | 2,277 | 35th Guernsey Open | A07 |
| Oct 2006 | Daniel Wright | 2,235 | Dorset Open | D74 |
| Jan 1999 | Jerry Wheeler | 2,230 | East Devon Open | D96 |
| Aug 2022 | Mark Josse | 2,220 | ch-GBR Seniors 50 108th | A14 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paignton Open | 2013 | 32 | 15 | 2,064 |
| Paington Open | 2011 | 28 | 14.5 | 2,121 |
| West of England Open | 2008 | 26 | 10 | 1,928 |
| East Devon Open | 2009 | 24 | 14 | 2,004 |
| Guernsey Open | 2013 | 14 | 8 | 2,150 |
| chT-EU Railways USIC | 2017 | 12 | 7 | 2,132 |
| ch-BCF Major Open | 2013 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,025 |
| Brno Duras IM A | 2008 | 11 | 1.5 | 2,006 |
Interactive opening tree from all 450 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Graham Bolt's chess games?
450 games by Graham Bolt, from Apr 2003 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 Graham Bolt has played.
What does Graham Bolt play on the first move as White?
Across 217 games with White in our database, Graham Bolt opens with 1.e4 (43% of games), 1.g3 (32% of games), 1.Nf3 (24% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Graham Bolt answers 1...g6 (50% of games), 1...c5 (50% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...g6 (57% of games), 1...Nf6 (40% of games), 1...d6 (1% of games).
What openings does Graham Bolt play as White?
As White, Graham Bolt's most-played openings in our database are: Hungarian Opening (67 games, 35.8% win rate); Réti Opening (35 games, 45.7% win rate); Sicilian (14 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 217 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Graham Bolt play as Black?
As Black, Graham Bolt most often plays: Modern Defense (117 games, 31.6% win rate); Grünfeld Defense (23 games, 21.7% win rate); Sicilian: Four Knights (21 games, 38.1% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 233 games.
What is Graham Bolt's FIDE rating?
Graham Bolt is currently rated 1,991 in classical chess, 1,909 in rapid and 1,941 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,118 (Jul 2008).
How many games has Graham Bolt played?
Our database contains 450 games by Graham Bolt, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 151 wins, 150 draws, 149 losses (33.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against Graham Bolt?
450 games by Graham Bolt 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.