Prepare against James Moreby
FM · United Kingdom · World #3,904 classical · FIDE ID 427756
When preparing against James Moreby, expect 1.c4 in 49% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (51% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (74%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: English Opening as White, 24.1% over 29 games.
Our database contains 473 games by James Moreby, covering Jun 2013 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find James Moreby's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout James Moreby 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 | 2,305 | 2,365 | May 2023 |
| Rapid | 2,190 | 2,248 | Mar 2024 |
| Blitz | 2,206 | 2,246 | May 2024 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 473 | 188 | 140 | 145 | 39.7% |
| As White | 237 | 101 | 71 | 65 | 42.6% |
| As Black | 236 | 87 | 69 | 80 | 36.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of James Moreby's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from James Moreby's side.
First moves as White (237 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c4 | 115 | 48.5% | 54.8% |
| e4 | 57 | 24.1% | 58.8% |
| Nf3 | 33 | 13.9% | 59.1% |
| d4 | 30 | 12.7% | 68.3% |
| b3 | 2 | 0.8% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.c4 — 49% of White games, 54.8% score
- …Nf6 (25% of these games) — Moreby usually continues Nc3 (62.1% score)
- …e6 (24% of these games) — Moreby usually continues g3 (46.2% score)
- …e5 (23% of these games) — Moreby usually continues Nc3 (59.5% score)
- 1.e4 — 24% of White games, 58.8% score
- …c5 (32% of these games) — Moreby usually continues Nf3 (44.1% score)
- …e5 (23% of these games) — Moreby usually continues Nf3 (73.1% score)
- …c6 (23% of these games) — Moreby usually continues d4 (75.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (99 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 50 | 50.5% | 59.0% |
| e6 | 31 | 31.3% | 51.6% |
| g6 | 9 | 9.1% | 61.1% |
| d5 | 5 | 5.1% | 50.0% |
| e5 | 2 | 2.0% | 75.0% |
| c6 | 1 | 1.0% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (87 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 64 | 73.6% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 16 | 18.4% | 62.5% |
| e6 | 4 | 4.6% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 2 | 2.3% | 25.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.1% | 0.0% |
James Moreby's chess games
All 473 games by James Moreby in the Chess.ceo database (Jun 2013 - 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: 188 wins, 140 draws, 145 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A28 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 34 | 13/9/12 | 38.2% |
| A13 | English Opening | 29 | 7/13/9 | 24.1% |
| B38 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 17 | 9/6/2 | 52.9% |
| E73 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | 13 | 5/5/3 | 38.5% |
| A18 | English Opening: Mikenas Variation | 10 | 8/1/1 | 80.0% |
| A09 | Réti Opening | 8 | 2/3/3 | 25.0% |
| A14 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 8 | 3/2/3 | 37.5% |
| D35 | Indian Defense | 7 | 2/4/1 | 28.6% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Fantasy Variation | 7 | 5/0/2 | 71.4% |
| A42 | Modern Defense | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 23 | 11/7/5 | 47.8% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 13 | 8/1/4 | 61.5% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 13 | 5/5/3 | 38.5% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 13 | 2/4/7 | 15.4% |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 11 | 2/5/4 | 18.2% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 11 | 5/2/4 | 45.5% |
| E43 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 10 | 3/6/1 | 30.0% |
| D31 | Semi-Slav Defense | 9 | 5/3/1 | 55.6% |
| E10 | Benoni Defense | 8 | 1/1/6 | 12.5% |
| D11 | Slav Defense | 8 | 6/1/1 | 75.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2023 | Mohamad Al Modiahki | 2,542 | chT-World Rapid | E73 |
| May 2025 | Mircea-Emilian Parligras | 2,516 | 4NCL 2024-25 | E47 |
| Mar 2025 | Hannes Stefansson | 2,444 | TCh-ISL Kvika 2024-25 | E11 |
| May 2020 | Vladimir Demin | 2,430 | Titled Tue | B15 |
| May 2020 | Aleksandar Savanovic | 2,410 | Titled Tue | B00 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2024 | 49 | 22 | 2,214 |
| British Rapidplay | 2024 | 11 | 6 | 2,104 |
| chT-BCF 2122 (4NCL) | 2022 | 11 | 5 | 2,342 |
| 4NCL 2025-26 | 2026 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,283 |
| chT-World Rapid | 2023 | 11 | 6 | 2,283 |
| 102nd ch-GBR Major | 2015 | 11 | 7.5 | 2,210 |
| UK Challenge Terafinal U18 | 2021 | 11 | 5.5 | 1,710 |
| 4NCL 2022-23 | 2023 | 11 | 7 | 2,420 |
Interactive opening tree from all 473 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find James Moreby's chess games?
473 games by James Moreby, from Jun 2013 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 James Moreby has played.
What does James Moreby play on the first move as White?
Across 237 games with White in our database, James Moreby opens with 1.c4 (49% of games), 1.e4 (24% of games), 1.Nf3 (14% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, James Moreby answers 1...c5 (51% of games), 1...e6 (31% of games), 1...g6 (9% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (74% of games), 1...d5 (18% of games), 1...e6 (5% of games).
What openings does James Moreby play as White?
As White, James Moreby's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (34 games, 38.2% win rate); English Opening (29 games, 24.1% win rate); English Opening: Symmetrical (17 games, 52.9% win rate). The full breakdown of 237 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does James Moreby play as Black?
As Black, James Moreby most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (23 games, 47.8% win rate); French: Classical Variation (13 games, 61.5% win rate); Indian Defense (13 games, 38.5% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 236 games.
What is James Moreby's FIDE rating?
James Moreby is currently rated 2,305 in classical chess, 2,190 in rapid and 2,206 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,365 (May 2023).
How many games has James Moreby played?
Our database contains 473 games by James Moreby, covering Jun 2013 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 188 wins, 140 draws, 145 losses (39.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against James Moreby?
473 games by James Moreby 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.