Prepare against Harald Merges
DEU · World #169,260 classical · FIDE ID 16202481
When preparing against Harald Merges, expect 1.e4 in 76% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (95% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (88%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian: Alapin as White, 27.8% over 18 games.
Our database contains 165 games by Harald Merges, covering May 2015 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Harald Merges's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Harald Merges 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 | 1,852 | 1,848 | Jul 2026 |
| Rapid | 1,828 | – | – |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 165 | 51 | 63 | 51 | 30.9% |
| As White | 83 | 26 | 34 | 23 | 31.3% |
| As Black | 82 | 25 | 29 | 28 | 30.5% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Harald Merges's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Harald Merges's side.
First moves as White (83 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 63 | 75.9% | 49.2% |
| g3 | 9 | 10.8% | 61.1% |
| d4 | 5 | 6.0% | 70.0% |
| c4 | 3 | 3.6% | 66.7% |
| Nf3 | 3 | 3.6% | 33.3% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 76% of White games, 49.2% score
- …c5 (38% of these games) — Merges usually continues c3 (52.8% score)
- …e6 (19% of these games) — Merges usually continues d4 (45.8% score)
- …e5 (14% of these games) — Merges usually continues Nf3 (66.7% score)
- 1.g3 — 11% of White games, 61.1% score
- …d5 (33% of these games) — Merges usually continues Bg2 (100.0% score)
- …Nf6 (22% of these games) — Merges usually continues Bg2 (75.0% score)
- …e5 (22% of these games) — Merges usually continues Bg2 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (40 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 38 | 95.0% | 51.3% |
| e5 | 2 | 5.0% | 75.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (26 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 23 | 88.5% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 2 | 7.7% | 25.0% |
| c5 | 1 | 3.8% | 100.0% |
Harald Merges's chess games
All 165 games by Harald Merges 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: 51 wins, 63 draws, 51 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 18 | 5/9/4 | 27.8% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 9 | 4/2/3 | 44.4% |
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 8 | 4/3/1 | 50.0% |
| C68 | Ruy Lopez: Exchange | 7 | 3/4/0 | 42.9% |
| B24 | Sicilian: Closed | 5 | 1/4/0 | 20.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| C44 | Alekhine Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 3 | 1/1/1 | 33.3% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 11 | 2/7/2 | 18.2% |
| C10 | French Defense | 7 | 2/1/4 | 28.6% |
| E12 | Queen's Indian Defense | 6 | 1/1/4 | 16.7% |
| A13 | English Opening | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
| C13 | French: Classical Variation | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| C07 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
| A52 | Budapest Defense | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 3 | 1/1/1 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1997 | Michael Herrmann | 2,260 | Rheinland-C | A52 |
| Apr 1999 | Berthold Walter | 2,092 | ch-Rheinland MA1 | C00 |
| May 2016 | Ralf Spreemann | 2,059 | 8th Rheinland Pfalz Open | B22 |
| Aug 2019 | Josef Tepe | 2,044 | 31st Wiesbaden Open | B22 |
| May 2016 | Thomas Riedel | 1,992 | 8th Rheinland Pfalz Open | B06 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-SVR MAT | 2019 | 30 | 14.5 | 1,837 |
| ch-RLPF B | 1990 | 11 | 5 | 1,862 |
| RL Open | 1995 | 11 | 7 | 2,399 |
| ch-Rheinland MA1 | 1999 | 9 | 4 | 2,064 |
| ch-SVR B | 2000 | 9 | 5 | 2,308 |
| Rheinland-C | 1997 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,348 |
| 18th Altenkirchen Seniors Open | 2021 | 9 | 4 | 1,727 |
| 9th Rheinland Pfalz Open | 2017 | 7 | 3.5 | 2,052 |
Interactive opening tree from all 165 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Harald Merges's chess games?
165 games by Harald Merges, 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 Harald Merges has played.
What does Harald Merges play on the first move as White?
Across 83 games with White in our database, Harald Merges opens with 1.e4 (76% of games), 1.g3 (11% of games), 1.d4 (6% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Harald Merges answers 1...e6 (95% of games), 1...e5 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (88% of games), 1...d5 (8% of games), 1...c5 (4% of games).
What openings does Harald Merges play as White?
As White, Harald Merges's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Alapin (18 games, 27.8% win rate); French: Advance Variation (9 games, 44.4% win rate); Hungarian Opening (8 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 83 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Harald Merges play as Black?
As Black, Harald Merges most often plays: French: Exchange Variation (11 games, 18.2% win rate); French Defense (7 games, 28.6% win rate); Queen's Indian Defense (6 games, 16.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 82 games.
What is Harald Merges's FIDE rating?
Harald Merges is currently rated 1,852 in classical chess, 1,828 in rapid. Peak classical rating: 1,848 (Jul 2026).
How many games has Harald Merges played?
Our database contains 165 games by Harald Merges, covering May 2015 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 51 wins, 63 draws, 51 losses (30.9% win rate).
How do I prepare against Harald Merges?
165 games by Harald Merges 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.