Prepare against James Benson
New Zealand · World #103,090 classical · FIDE ID 4305965
When preparing against James Benson, expect 1.d4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (86%).
Our database contains 35 games by James Benson, covering May 2015 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find James Benson's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout James Benson 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 | 1,720 | 1,800 | Oct 2017 |
| Rapid | 1,765 | 1,801 | Feb 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,882 | 1,882 | Aug 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 35 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 20.0% |
| As White | 18 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 22.2% |
| As Black | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 17.6% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of James Benson's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from James Benson's side.
First moves as White (18 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 18 | 100.0% | 22.2% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 100% of White games, 22.2% score
- …Nf6 (39% of these games) — Benson usually continues Bf4 (25.0% score)
- …d5 (28% of these games) — Benson usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …b6 (11% of these games) — Benson usually continues Bf4 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (9 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 9 | 100.0% | 38.9% |
As Black against 1.d4 (7 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 6 | 85.7% | 25.0% |
| f5 | 1 | 14.3% | 0.0% |
James Benson's chess games
All 35 games by James Benson in the Chess.ceo database (May 2015 - Aug 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: 7 wins, 4 draws, 24 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D02 | London System | 5 | 2/0/3 | 40.0% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A40 | English Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| D04 | Colle System | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A90 | Horwitz Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| D00 | Blackmar-Diemer Gambit | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A48 | King's Indian Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A51 | Budapest Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Hyperaccelerated Dragon | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A85 | Dutch Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A16 | English Opening | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| B76 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A45 | London System | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2023 | Evgenia Charmova | 1,947 | Bob Wade mem Challengers 2 | D02 |
| Oct 2017 | Grant Kerr | 1,940 | ch-Asia Seniors 65 8th | B22 |
| Jul 2019 | Stanley Yee | 1,900 | ch-Oceania & NZL Seniors | D02 |
| Feb 2026 | Nancy L Lane | 1,864 | 2026 Hawkes Bay Rapid | D05 |
| Oct 2017 | K William Lynn | 1,817 | ch-Asia Seniors 65 8th | B23 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Wade mem Challengers 2 | 2023 | 9 | 3.5 | 1,517 |
| ch-Asia Seniors 65 8th | 2017 | 8 | 2.5 | 1,658 |
| ch-Asian Seniors 65 | 2022 | 8 | 0.5 | 1,359 |
| ch-Oceania & NZL Seniors | 2019 | 5 | 1.5 | 1,760 |
| 2026 Hawkes Bay Rapid | 2026 | 5 | 1 | 1,492 |
Interactive opening tree from all 35 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find James Benson's chess games?
35 games by James Benson, from May 2015 to Aug 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 James Benson has played.
What does James Benson play on the first move as White?
Across 18 games with White in our database, James Benson opens with 1.d4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, James Benson answers 1...c5 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (86% of games), 1...f5 (14% of games).
What openings does James Benson play as White?
As White, James Benson's most-played openings in our database are: London System (5 games, 40.0% win rate); Dutch Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate); Queen's Pawn Game (2 games, 0.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 18 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does James Benson play as Black?
As Black, James Benson most often plays: Budapest Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate); Indian Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate); Sicilian: Alapin (2 games, 0.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 17 games.
What is James Benson's FIDE rating?
James Benson is currently rated 1,720 in classical chess, 1,765 in rapid and 1,882 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,800 (Oct 2017).
How many games has James Benson played?
Our database contains 35 games by James Benson, covering May 2015 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 7 wins, 4 draws, 24 losses (20.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against James Benson?
35 games by James Benson 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.