Prepare against Henk Happel
FM · NLD · World #46,283 classical · FIDE ID 1001078
When preparing against Henk Happel, expect 1.d4 in 99% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (97% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (83%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Queen's Indian Defense as Black, 11.1% over 18 games.
Our database contains 358 games by Henk Happel, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Henk Happel's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Henk Happel 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 | 1,908 | 2,250 | Jul 2003 |
| Blitz | 1,918 | 1,951 | Jun 2025 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 358 | 101 | 115 | 142 | 28.2% |
| As White | 180 | 64 | 58 | 58 | 35.6% |
| As Black | 178 | 37 | 57 | 84 | 20.8% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Henk Happel's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Henk Happel's side.
First moves as White (180 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 178 | 98.9% | 52.0% |
| c4 | 2 | 1.1% | 25.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 99% of White games, 52.0% score
- …Nf6 (50% of these games) — Happel usually continues c4 (54.5% score)
- …d5 (24% of these games) — Happel usually continues c4 (59.5% score)
- …f5 (7% of these games) — Happel usually continues Nf3 (45.8% score)
- 1.c4 — 1% of White games, 25.0% score
- …c5 (100% of these games) — Happel usually continues Nc3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (69 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 67 | 97.1% | 38.8% |
| c5 | 2 | 2.9% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (65 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 54 | 83.1% | 39.8% |
| e6 | 8 | 12.3% | 25.0% |
| f5 | 2 | 3.1% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 1 | 1.5% | 50.0% |
Henk Happel's chess games
All 358 games by Henk Happel 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: 101 wins, 115 draws, 142 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 32 | 10/11/11 | 31.3% |
| E92 | King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation | 16 | 7/4/5 | 43.8% |
| D13 | Slav Defense | 13 | 3/5/5 | 23.1% |
| D20 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 12 | 6/3/3 | 50.0% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 12 | 2/7/3 | 16.7% |
| E30 | Nimzo-Indian: Leningrad Variation | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 8 | 4/3/1 | 50.0% |
| E91 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 8 | 2/4/2 | 25.0% |
| E24 | Nimzo-Indian: Sämisch Variation | 8 | 3/0/5 | 37.5% |
| A42 | Modern Defense | 7 | 2/3/2 | 28.6% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C12 | French: Classical Variation | 30 | 7/9/14 | 23.3% |
| E13 | Queen's Indian Defense | 18 | 2/6/10 | 11.1% |
| C07 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 12 | 1/3/8 | 8.3% |
| A30 | English Opening | 11 | 1/5/5 | 9.1% |
| A56 | Benoni Defense | 10 | 2/6/2 | 20.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 10 | 3/4/3 | 30.0% |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 9 | 3/4/2 | 33.3% |
| A14 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 9 | 1/4/4 | 11.1% |
| C00 | Réti Opening | 7 | 0/2/5 | 0.0% |
| A90 | Horwitz Defense | 6 | 0/3/3 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2001 | Dimitrij Bunzmann | 2,505 | 16th Avoine Open | E15 |
| Jan 1987 | Bachar Kouatly | 2,470 | 5th Berliner Sommer | D85 |
| Jan 1994 | Rui Damaso | 2,420 | Cordoba Open | E91 |
| Jun 2002 | Dinko Brumen | 2,408 | 3rd Lido degli Estensi Open | A45 |
| Aug 2001 | Yochanan Afek | 2,381 | Lost Boys Open | D20 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Boys Open | 2002 | 24 | 8.5 | 2,229 |
| WchT Seniors 65 | 2016 | 10 | 3 | 2,017 |
| 25th Arco Open | 2003 | 9 | 5 | 2,263 |
| 10th ch-Hessen Seniors Open | 2014 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,141 |
| 11th chT-EU Seniors | 2009 | 9 | 4 | 2,182 |
| 28th Arco Open | 2006 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,187 |
| Corus Reserve Open | 2001 | 9 | 4 | 2,192 |
| 9th ch-Hessen Seniors Open | 2013 | 9 | 6.5 | 2,275 |
Interactive opening tree from all 358 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Henk Happel's chess games?
358 games by Henk Happel, 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 Henk Happel has played.
What does Henk Happel play on the first move as White?
Across 180 games with White in our database, Henk Happel opens with 1.d4 (99% of games), 1.c4 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Henk Happel answers 1...e6 (97% of games), 1...c5 (3% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (83% of games), 1...e6 (12% of games), 1...f5 (3% of games).
What openings does Henk Happel play as White?
As White, Henk Happel's most-played openings in our database are: Benoni Defense (32 games, 31.3% win rate); King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation (16 games, 43.8% win rate); Slav Defense (13 games, 23.1% win rate). The full breakdown of 180 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Henk Happel play as Black?
As Black, Henk Happel most often plays: French: Classical Variation (30 games, 23.3% win rate); Queen's Indian Defense (18 games, 11.1% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (12 games, 8.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 178 games.
What is Henk Happel's FIDE rating?
Henk Happel is currently rated 1,908 in classical chess and 1,918 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,250 (Jul 2003).
How many games has Henk Happel played?
Our database contains 358 games by Henk Happel, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 101 wins, 115 draws, 142 losses (28.2% win rate).
How do I prepare against Henk Happel?
358 games by Henk Happel 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.