Prepare against Ian L Snape
United Kingdom · World #18,596 classical · FIDE ID 404489
When preparing against Ian L Snape, expect 1.c4 in 52% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (84% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (55%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian: Alapin as Black, 10.0% over 20 games.
Our database contains 679 games by Ian L Snape, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Ian L Snape's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ian L Snape 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 | 2,069 | 2,274 | Aug 2012 |
| Rapid | 1,994 | 2,233 | Oct 2012 |
| Blitz | 2,134 | 2,222 | Sep 2014 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 679 | 206 | 248 | 225 | 30.3% |
| As White | 349 | 120 | 127 | 102 | 34.4% |
| As Black | 330 | 86 | 121 | 123 | 26.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ian L Snape's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ian L Snape's side.
First moves as White (349 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c4 | 183 | 52.4% | 54.6% |
| e4 | 126 | 36.1% | 46.4% |
| d4 | 34 | 9.7% | 63.2% |
| Nf3 | 5 | 1.4% | 50.0% |
| g3 | 1 | 0.3% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.c4 — 52% of White games, 54.6% score
- …Nf6 (26% of these games) — Snape usually continues Nc3 (60.9% score)
- …e6 (20% of these games) — Snape usually continues g3 (58.9% score)
- …e5 (20% of these games) — Snape usually continues Nc3 (53.2% score)
- 1.e4 — 36% of White games, 46.4% score
- …c5 (39% of these games) — Snape usually continues Nf3 (43.8% score)
- …e6 (24% of these games) — Snape usually continues d4 (61.7% score)
- …e5 (16% of these games) — Snape usually continues f4 (33.3% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (161 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 136 | 84.5% | 44.1% |
| d6 | 13 | 8.1% | 53.8% |
| Nf6 | 11 | 6.8% | 63.6% |
| e6 | 1 | 0.6% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (114 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 63 | 55.3% | 33.3% |
| c5 | 45 | 39.5% | 47.8% |
| g6 | 3 | 2.6% | 50.0% |
| d6 | 2 | 1.8% | 25.0% |
| d5 | 1 | 0.9% | 100.0% |
Ian L Snape's chess games
All 679 games by Ian L Snape 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: 206 wins, 248 draws, 225 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A13 | English Opening | 55 | 24/23/8 | 43.6% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 45 | 13/18/14 | 28.9% |
| B32 | Sicilian | 21 | 6/8/7 | 28.6% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 17 | 5/7/5 | 29.4% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 16 | 8/3/5 | 50.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 15 | 3/9/3 | 20.0% |
| C38 | King's Gambit | 12 | 1/6/5 | 8.3% |
| E05 | Catalan | 12 | 6/3/3 | 50.0% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 11 | 3/6/2 | 27.3% |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 10 | 3/4/3 | 30.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A43 | Benoni Defense | 57 | 15/20/22 | 26.3% |
| B76 | Sicilian: Dragon | 41 | 7/18/16 | 17.1% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 27 | 5/10/12 | 18.5% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 25 | 9/8/8 | 36.0% |
| A26 | English Opening | 23 | 5/8/10 | 21.7% |
| E97 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 22 | 3/9/10 | 13.6% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 20 | 2/8/10 | 10.0% |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 12 | 3/7/2 | 25.0% |
| B04 | Alekhine Defense | 11 | 6/2/3 | 54.5% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense: Lion System | 10 | 3/6/1 | 30.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | Simon K Williams | 2,550 | 85th Hastings Masters Open | C18 |
| Dec 2011 | Sundar M Shyam | 2,462 | 87th Hastings Masters Open | A43 |
| Aug 2006 | Roland Berzinsh | 2,445 | Coulsdon Autumn A | B76 |
| Jan 2009 | Alexander Cherniaev | 2,438 | 84th Hastings Masters | B23 |
| Jan 2010 | Christophe Philippe | 2,430 | 85th Hastings Masters Open | B70 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coulsdon Autumn A | 2009 | 27 | 9 | 2,188 |
| Coulsdon Jessie Gilbert | 2010 | 18 | 10 | 2,327 |
| Coulsdon Xmas | 2008 | 18 | 4.5 | 2,121 |
| WchT Seniors 65 | 2022 | 14 | 9.5 | 2,268 |
| ch-ENG Seniors 65 | 2024 | 14 | 9.5 | 2,163 |
| 4NCL Rapid | 2014 | 13 | 5 | 2,116 |
| ch-4NCL Rapid | 2014 | 12 | 6.5 | 2,148 |
| Australian Masters | 1996 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,287 |
Frequent opponents
Head-to-head records: Peter J Sowray (11 games)
Interactive opening tree from all 679 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ian L Snape's chess games?
679 games by Ian L Snape, 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 Ian L Snape has played.
What does Ian L Snape play on the first move as White?
Across 349 games with White in our database, Ian L Snape opens with 1.c4 (52% of games), 1.e4 (36% of games), 1.d4 (10% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ian L Snape answers 1...c5 (84% of games), 1...d6 (8% of games), 1...Nf6 (7% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (55% of games), 1...c5 (39% of games), 1...g6 (3% of games).
What openings does Ian L Snape play as White?
As White, Ian L Snape's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening (55 games, 43.6% win rate); English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (45 games, 28.9% win rate); Sicilian (21 games, 28.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 349 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ian L Snape play as Black?
As Black, Ian L Snape most often plays: Benoni Defense (57 games, 26.3% win rate); Sicilian: Dragon (41 games, 17.1% win rate); Sicilian: Closed (27 games, 18.5% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 330 games.
What is Ian L Snape's FIDE rating?
Ian L Snape is currently rated 2,069 in classical chess, 1,994 in rapid and 2,134 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,274 (Aug 2012).
How many games has Ian L Snape played?
Our database contains 679 games by Ian L Snape, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 206 wins, 248 draws, 225 losses (30.3% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ian L Snape?
679 games by Ian L Snape 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.