Prepare against Ian Finlay
Canada · World #81,122 classical · FIDE ID 2604302
When preparing against Ian Finlay, expect 1.e4 in 79% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (50% of games); against 1.d4, 1...f5 (100%).
Our database contains 80 games by Ian Finlay, covering Nov 2011 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Ian Finlay's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ian Finlay 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 | 1,786 | 1,932 | Jan 2013 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 80 | 28 | 15 | 37 | 35.0% |
| As White | 39 | 16 | 8 | 15 | 41.0% |
| As Black | 41 | 12 | 7 | 22 | 29.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ian Finlay's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ian Finlay's side.
First moves as White (39 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 31 | 79.5% | 54.8% |
| Nf3 | 3 | 7.7% | 0.0% |
| d4 | 3 | 7.7% | 33.3% |
| g3 | 1 | 2.6% | 100.0% |
| f4 | 1 | 2.6% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 79% of White games, 54.8% score
- …c5 (45% of these games) — Finlay usually continues Nf3 (67.9% score)
- …e6 (16% of these games) — Finlay usually continues d4 (40.0% score)
- …c6 (16% of these games) — Finlay usually continues d3 (60.0% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 8% of White games, 0.0% score
- …d5 (33% of these games) — Finlay usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
- …d6 (33% of these games) — Finlay usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
- …Nf6 (33% of these games) — Finlay usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (30 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 15 | 50.0% | 26.7% |
| e5 | 12 | 40.0% | 50.0% |
| e6 | 2 | 6.7% | 50.0% |
| Nf6 | 1 | 3.3% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (4 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| f5 | 4 | 100.0% | 62.5% |
Ian Finlay's chess games
All 80 games by Ian Finlay in the Chess.ceo database (Nov 2011 - 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: 28 wins, 15 draws, 37 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A04 | Sicilian | 11 | 5/3/3 | 45.5% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 5 | 2/0/3 | 40.0% |
| B10 | Caro-Kann | 5 | 2/2/1 | 40.0% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| D38 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| A05 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| B22 | Scandinavian Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| D43 | Semi-Slav Defense | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| B75 | Sicilian: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B40 | Sicilian | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| A87 | Dutch Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| A10 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | 5 | 0/1/4 | 0.0% |
| C80 | Ruy Lopez: Open | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| B22 | French Defense | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| C50 | Italian Game | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C44 | Scotch Game | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2012 | Yiming Han | 2,060 | 49th ch-CAN Open | C57 |
| Jul 2012 | Helmut Fritzsche | 2,052 | 49th ch-CAN Open | C53 |
| Jul 2012 | Pavel Trochtchanovitch | 2,042 | 49th ch-CAN Open | C44 |
| Nov 2012 | Alan P Borwell | 2,039 | 22nd Wch Seniors | A08 |
| Nov 2012 | Mark Rubinstein | 1,986 | 22nd Wch Seniors | C02 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28th Wch Seniors 65 | 2018 | 11 | 4 | 1,714 |
| 22nd Wch Seniors | 2012 | 11 | 4.5 | 1,971 |
| 48th Canadian Open | 2011 | 9 | 2.5 | 1,768 |
| Canadian Open U2000 | 2016 | 9 | 6 | 1,891 |
| ch-CAN Seniors | 2010 | 7 | 4.5 | 1,956 |
| 49th ch-CAN Open | 2012 | 7 | 3.5 | 2,058 |
| ch-CAN Seniors 65+ | 2015 | 6 | 2 | 1,729 |
| John Bishop Minor Open | 2007 | 6 | 2 | 1,072 |
Interactive opening tree from all 80 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ian Finlay's chess games?
80 games by Ian Finlay, from Nov 2011 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 Ian Finlay has played.
What does Ian Finlay play on the first move as White?
Across 39 games with White in our database, Ian Finlay opens with 1.e4 (79% of games), 1.Nf3 (8% of games), 1.d4 (8% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ian Finlay answers 1...c5 (50% of games), 1...e5 (40% of games), 1...e6 (7% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...f5 (100% of games).
What openings does Ian Finlay play as White?
As White, Ian Finlay's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (11 games, 45.5% win rate); French: Advance Variation (5 games, 40.0% win rate); Caro-Kann (5 games, 40.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 39 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ian Finlay play as Black?
As Black, Ian Finlay most often plays: Sicilian (9 games, 33.3% win rate); Dutch Defense (5 games, 40.0% win rate); English Opening: Dutch Defense (5 games, 0.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 41 games.
What is Ian Finlay's FIDE rating?
Ian Finlay is currently rated 1,786 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 1,932 (Jan 2013).
How many games has Ian Finlay played?
Our database contains 80 games by Ian Finlay, covering Nov 2011 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 28 wins, 15 draws, 37 losses (35.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ian Finlay?
80 games by Ian Finlay 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.