Prepare against James Merriman
United Kingdom · World #10,017 classical · FIDE ID 452270
When preparing against James Merriman, expect 1.d4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (85%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: French: Tarrasch Variation as Black, 26.7% over 15 games.
Our database contains 352 games by James Merriman, covering Aug 2016 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find James Merriman's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout James Merriman 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 | 2,169 | 2,174 | Nov 2025 |
| Rapid | 1,836 | 1,836 | Aug 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,888 | 1,888 | Aug 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 352 | 135 | 91 | 126 | 38.4% |
| As White | 185 | 75 | 46 | 64 | 40.5% |
| As Black | 167 | 60 | 45 | 62 | 35.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of James Merriman's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from James Merriman's side.
First moves as White (185 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 185 | 100.0% | 53.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 100% of White games, 53.0% score
- …Nf6 (50% of these games) — Merriman usually continues c4 (55.4% score)
- …d5 (35% of these games) — Merriman usually continues c4 (50.8% score)
- …e6 (5% of these games) — Merriman usually continues c4 (60.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (88 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 88 | 100.0% | 53.4% |
As Black against 1.d4 (54 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 46 | 85.2% | 48.9% |
| e6 | 8 | 14.8% | 43.8% |
James Merriman's chess games
All 352 games by James Merriman in the Chess.ceo database (Aug 2016 - 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: 135 wins, 91 draws, 126 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E45 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 32 | 15/7/10 | 46.9% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 24 | 11/7/6 | 45.8% |
| D15 | Slav Defense | 21 | 8/2/11 | 38.1% |
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 16 | 6/2/8 | 37.5% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 14 | 4/6/4 | 28.6% |
| D92 | Grünfeld Defense | 11 | 6/3/2 | 54.5% |
| D34 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 10 | 4/2/4 | 40.0% |
| A40 | Modern Defense | 8 | 4/1/3 | 50.0% |
| D20 | Queen's Gambit Accepted | 8 | 2/3/3 | 25.0% |
| A81 | Dutch Defense | 6 | 1/1/4 | 16.7% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 23 | 8/8/7 | 34.8% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 17 | 7/3/7 | 41.2% |
| C03 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 15 | 4/5/6 | 26.7% |
| C00 | French Defense | 15 | 9/3/3 | 60.0% |
| A75 | Benoni Defense | 13 | 7/1/5 | 53.8% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 12 | 6/3/3 | 50.0% |
| A62 | Catalan | 11 | 5/3/3 | 45.5% |
| A10 | English Opening | 10 | 2/4/4 | 20.0% |
| A36 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 5 | 1/3/1 | 20.0% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 5 | 1/1/3 | 20.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2023 | Dietmar Kolbus | 2,270 | 109th ch-GBR | E40 |
| Sep 2022 | Alexander Cherniaev | 2,267 | London Mindsports Rapid | E61 |
| Jun 2023 | Javier Valdepenas Octavio | 2,218 | 30th Daventry 4NCL Open A | E70 |
| Sep 2022 | Declan Shafi | 2,213 | London Mindsports Rapid | D92 |
| Jul 2024 | Chris R Beaumont | 2,198 | ch-BCF | A65 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-BCF U11 | 2018 | 12 | 7 | 185 |
| ch-BCF U09 | 2016 | 12 | 9.5 | 653 |
| chT-BCF 2122 (4NCL) | 2022 | 11 | 6 | 1,946 |
| 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad London Rapid - Open | 2026 | 10 | 4.5 | 1,994 |
| 95th Hastings Masters Open | 2020 | 9 | 4 | 1,829 |
| Hull 4NCL Open | 2022 | 9 | 5 | 2,169 |
| Sussex University Masters | 2026 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,097 |
| 109th ch-GBR | 2023 | 9 | 3 | 2,079 |
Interactive opening tree from all 352 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find James Merriman's chess games?
352 games by James Merriman, from Aug 2016 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 Merriman has played.
What does James Merriman play on the first move as White?
Across 185 games with White in our database, James Merriman opens with 1.d4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, James Merriman answers 1...e6 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (85% of games), 1...e6 (15% of games).
What openings does James Merriman play as White?
As White, James Merriman's most-played openings in our database are: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System (32 games, 46.9% win rate); Indian Defense (24 games, 45.8% win rate); Slav Defense (21 games, 38.1% win rate). The full breakdown of 185 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does James Merriman play as Black?
As Black, James Merriman most often plays: French: Classical Variation (23 games, 34.8% win rate); French: Advance Variation (17 games, 41.2% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (15 games, 26.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 167 games.
What is James Merriman's FIDE rating?
James Merriman is currently rated 2,169 in classical chess, 1,836 in rapid and 1,888 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,174 (Nov 2025).
How many games has James Merriman played?
Our database contains 352 games by James Merriman, covering Aug 2016 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 135 wins, 91 draws, 126 losses (38.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against James Merriman?
352 games by James Merriman 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.