Prepare against Horst Watzka
FM · Austria · World #15,216 classical · FIDE ID 1600311
Our database contains 484 games by Horst Watzka, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Horst Watzka's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Horst Watzka 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 | 2,103 | 2,338 | Apr 2004 |
| Rapid | 2,219 | 2,254 | Dec 2014 |
| Blitz | 2,212 | 2,254 | Mar 2015 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 484 | 110 | 299 | 75 | 22.7% |
| As White | 262 | 67 | 162 | 33 | 25.6% |
| As Black | 222 | 43 | 137 | 42 | 19.4% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Horst Watzka's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Horst Watzka's side.
First moves as White (262 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 252 | 96.2% | 56.3% |
| f4 | 5 | 1.9% | 70.0% |
| d4 | 4 | 1.5% | 50.0% |
| c4 | 1 | 0.4% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 96% of White games, 56.3% score
- …c5 (47% of these games) — Watzka usually continues Nf3 (59.7% score)
- …e5 (17% of these games) — Watzka usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (15% of these games) — Watzka usually continues d4 (57.6% score)
- 1.f4 — 2% of White games, 70.0% score
- …d5 (40% of these games) — Watzka usually continues b3 (75.0% score)
- …Nf6 (20% of these games) — Watzka usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
- …g6 (20% of these games) — Watzka usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (86 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e5 | 41 | 47.7% | 47.6% |
| c5 | 39 | 45.3% | 59.0% |
| Nf6 | 3 | 3.5% | 50.0% |
| c6 | 2 | 2.3% | 75.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.2% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (93 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 82 | 88.2% | 45.1% |
| d6 | 9 | 9.7% | 72.2% |
| g6 | 2 | 2.2% | 0.0% |
Horst Watzka's chess games
All 484 games by Horst Watzka 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: 110 wins, 299 draws, 75 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 34 | 11/21/2 | 32.4% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 29 | 11/12/6 | 37.9% |
| C06 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 21 | 6/12/3 | 28.6% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 13 | 3/7/3 | 23.1% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 11 | 2/8/1 | 18.2% |
| B91 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 11 | 4/5/2 | 36.4% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 10 | 2/8/0 | 20.0% |
| C85 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 10 | 3/6/1 | 30.0% |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 7 | 0/6/1 | 0.0% |
| B27 | Sicilian: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 6 | 1/5/0 | 16.7% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B32 | Sicilian | 19 | 7/9/3 | 36.8% |
| E61 | Indian Defense | 18 | 2/13/3 | 11.1% |
| C91 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 16 | 1/9/6 | 6.3% |
| E91 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 15 | 3/8/4 | 20.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 11 | 3/7/1 | 27.3% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 9 | 3/6/0 | 33.3% |
| E65 | Réti Opening | 9 | 1/6/2 | 11.1% |
| A11 | English Opening | 9 | 0/6/3 | 0.0% |
| D80 | Grünfeld Defense | 8 | 1/4/3 | 12.5% |
| E14 | Bogo-Indian Defense | 7 | 1/2/4 | 14.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2010 | Vitaly Tseshkovsky | 2,554 | 12th chT-EU Seniors | B40 |
| Jan 1979 | Robert Bellin | 2,425 | Graz | C85 |
| Oct 2002 | Alexandru Victor Butunoi | 2,404 | chT2M-AUT 0203 | B32 |
| Jan 1995 | Adolf Herzog | 2,400 | chT-AUT 9495 | C29 |
| Jan 1996 | Norbert Sommerbauer | 2,385 | chT-AUT 9596 | B80 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-AUT | 1994 | 60 | 35.5 | 2,356 |
| chT-EU Seniors | 2015 | 34 | 16 | 2,185 |
| WchT Seniors 65 | 2022 | 17 | 7.5 | 2,226 |
| Zonal 03 Vrnjacka Banja | 1967 | 17 | 5.5 | – |
| Graz | 1979 | 13 | 6 | 2,377 |
| chT2M-AUT 1213 | 2013 | 11 | 7.5 | 2,398 |
| chT-AUT 0102 | 2002 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,307 |
| chT-AUT 9596 | 1996 | 11 | 7.5 | 2,439 |
Interactive opening tree from all 484 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Horst Watzka's chess games?
484 games by Horst Watzka, 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 Horst Watzka has played.
What does Horst Watzka play on the first move as White?
Across 262 games with White in our database, Horst Watzka opens with 1.e4 (96% of games), 1.f4 (2% of games), 1.d4 (2% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Horst Watzka answers 1...e5 (48% of games), 1...c5 (45% of games), 1...Nf6 (3% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (88% of games), 1...d6 (10% of games), 1...g6 (2% of games).
What openings does Horst Watzka play as White?
As White, Horst Watzka's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Rossolimo (34 games, 32.4% win rate); Sicilian (29 games, 37.9% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (21 games, 28.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 262 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Horst Watzka play as Black?
As Black, Horst Watzka most often plays: Sicilian (19 games, 36.8% win rate); Indian Defense (18 games, 11.1% win rate); Ruy Lopez: Closed (16 games, 6.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 222 games.
What is Horst Watzka's FIDE rating?
Horst Watzka is currently rated 2,103 in classical chess, 2,219 in rapid and 2,212 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,338 (Apr 2004).
How many games has Horst Watzka played?
Our database contains 484 games by Horst Watzka, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 110 wins, 299 draws, 75 losses (22.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against Horst Watzka?
484 games by Horst Watzka 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.