Prepare against Istvan Pongo
Hungary · World #88,826 classical · FIDE ID 719730
When preparing against Istvan Pongo, expect 1.Nf3 in 33% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (51% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (44%).
Our database contains 131 games by Istvan Pongo, covering Oct 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Istvan Pongo's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Istvan Pongo 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 | 1,762 | 1,874 | May 2012 |
| Rapid | 1,837 | 1,837 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 131 | 32 | 22 | 77 | 24.4% |
| As White | 64 | 15 | 13 | 36 | 23.4% |
| As Black | 67 | 17 | 9 | 41 | 25.4% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Istvan Pongo's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Istvan Pongo's side.
First moves as White (64 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 21 | 32.8% | 28.6% |
| e4 | 17 | 26.6% | 44.1% |
| d4 | 11 | 17.2% | 31.8% |
| c4 | 7 | 10.9% | 50.0% |
| g3 | 5 | 7.8% | 20.0% |
| b3 | 3 | 4.7% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.Nf3 — 33% of White games, 28.6% score
- …Nf6 (62% of these games) — Pongo usually continues c4 (41.7% score)
- …d5 (19% of these games) — Pongo usually continues c4 (25.0% score)
- …c5 (14% of these games) — Pongo usually continues c4 (0.0% score)
- 1.e4 — 27% of White games, 44.1% score
- …e5 (41% of these games) — Pongo usually continues Nf3 (20.0% score)
- …c5 (35% of these games) — Pongo usually continues Nc3 (33.3% score)
- …e6 (12% of these games) — Pongo usually continues d4 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (39 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 20 | 51.3% | 27.5% |
| e6 | 12 | 30.8% | 37.5% |
| b6 | 4 | 10.3% | 37.5% |
| Nf6 | 2 | 5.1% | 0.0% |
| e5 | 1 | 2.6% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (18 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 8 | 44.4% | 43.8% |
| e6 | 6 | 33.3% | 25.0% |
| b6 | 2 | 11.1% | 25.0% |
| d5 | 2 | 11.1% | 0.0% |
Istvan Pongo's chess games
All 131 games by Istvan Pongo in the Chess.ceo database (Oct 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: 32 wins, 22 draws, 77 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D06 | English Opening | 13 | 1/4/8 | 7.7% |
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 5 | 1/0/4 | 20.0% |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| A30 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 3 | 0/0/3 | 0.0% |
| A43 | Benoni Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| A01 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | 3 | 0/0/3 | 0.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| D03 | Torre Attack | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Grand Prix Attack | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| C04 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B20 | Sicilian | 8 | 3/1/4 | 37.5% |
| B00 | French Defense | 5 | 2/0/3 | 40.0% |
| B00 | Owen Defense | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| A60 | Benoni Defense | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| A40 | Horwitz Defense | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| B02 | Alekhine Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A48 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1998 | Gabor Ritter | 2,200 | Budapest FS08 Elo | D00 |
| Jan 1998 | Csaba Dr. Bognar | 2,150 | Budapest FS06 FM | A60 |
| Jan 2000 | David Berczes | 2,140 | Budapest FS02 Elo-B | A38 |
| Jan 1998 | Almos Szirti | 2,135 | Budapest FS06 FM | A68 |
| Jan 1998 | Viktor Hudecz | 2,135 | Budapest FS06 FM | C08 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budapest FS08 FM-B | 2003 | 13 | 5 | 1,919 |
| Budapest FS10 FM | 2001 | 11 | 2 | 1,809 |
| chT2-HUN Erkel 0708 | 2008 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,044 |
| chT1-Budapest Lilienthal 1112 | 2012 | 10 | 3 | 1,856 |
| chT1-Budapest Lilienthal 1213 | 2013 | 10 | 2 | 1,816 |
| Budapest FS05 Elo | 1999 | 10 | 1.5 | 1,877 |
| Budapest Spring Open | 2016 | 9 | 3 | 1,629 |
| Budapest FS08 Elo | 1998 | 9 | 6 | 2,241 |
Interactive opening tree from all 131 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Istvan Pongo's chess games?
131 games by Istvan Pongo, from Oct 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 Istvan Pongo has played.
What does Istvan Pongo play on the first move as White?
Across 64 games with White in our database, Istvan Pongo opens with 1.Nf3 (33% of games), 1.e4 (27% of games), 1.d4 (17% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Istvan Pongo answers 1...c5 (51% of games), 1...e6 (31% of games), 1...b6 (10% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (44% of games), 1...e6 (33% of games), 1...b6 (11% of games).
What openings does Istvan Pongo play as White?
As White, Istvan Pongo's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening (13 games, 7.7% win rate); Hungarian Opening (5 games, 20.0% win rate); Indian Defense (4 games, 25.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 64 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Istvan Pongo play as Black?
As Black, Istvan Pongo most often plays: Sicilian (8 games, 37.5% win rate); French Defense (5 games, 40.0% win rate); Owen Defense (4 games, 25.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 67 games.
What is Istvan Pongo's FIDE rating?
Istvan Pongo is currently rated 1,762 in classical chess, 1,837 in rapid. Peak classical rating: 1,874 (May 2012).
How many games has Istvan Pongo played?
Our database contains 131 games by Istvan Pongo, covering Oct 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 32 wins, 22 draws, 77 losses (24.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Istvan Pongo?
131 games by Istvan Pongo 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.