Prepare against James Ratcliffe
United Kingdom · World #50,327 classical · FIDE ID 343432840
When preparing against James Ratcliffe, expect 1.e4 in 90% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (74% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (100%).
Our database contains 79 games by James Ratcliffe, covering Oct 2023 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find James Ratcliffe's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout James Ratcliffe 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 | 1,892 | 1,932 | Mar 2026 |
| Rapid | 1,814 | 1,835 | Jul 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,791 | 1,882 | Oct 2025 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 24 | 21 | 34 | 30.4% |
| As White | 39 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 28.2% |
| As Black | 40 | 13 | 11 | 16 | 32.5% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of James Ratcliffe's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from James Ratcliffe's side.
First moves as White (39 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 35 | 89.7% | 40.0% |
| Nf3 | 2 | 5.1% | 25.0% |
| d4 | 2 | 5.1% | 75.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 90% of White games, 40.0% score
- …c5 (43% of these games) — Ratcliffe usually continues Nc3 (35.7% score)
- …e5 (20% of these games) — Ratcliffe usually continues Nf3 (57.1% score)
- …e6 (17% of these games) — Ratcliffe usually continues d3 (62.5% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 5% of White games, 25.0% score
- …e6 (50% of these games) — Ratcliffe usually continues d4 (0.0% score)
- …d5 (50% of these games) — Ratcliffe usually continues b3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (23 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 17 | 73.9% | 35.3% |
| e5 | 6 | 26.1% | 75.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (10 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 10 | 100.0% | 60.0% |
James Ratcliffe's chess games
All 79 games by James Ratcliffe in the Chess.ceo database (Oct 2023 - 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: 24 wins, 21 draws, 34 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 7 | 1/3/3 | 14.3% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B07 | Philidor | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| D37 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B28 | Sicilian | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| D95 | Grünfeld Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C54 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B32 | Sicilian | 8 | 3/1/4 | 37.5% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| E15 | Queen's Indian Defense | 4 | 1/3/0 | 25.0% |
| A15 | English Opening | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
| B36 | Sicilian: Accelerated Dragon | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| C55 | Four Knights Game: Italian Variation | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| A16 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| D05 | Colle System | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| E21 | Nimzo-Indian Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | Anselm Schoenbaechler | 2,091 | Isle of Wight Masters | C41 |
| Dec 2025 | Zoe Varney | 2,053 | Hastings Masters 2025-26 | C65 |
| Feb 2026 | Adam Sefton | 1,997 | Isle of Wight Masters | C00 |
| Jun 2026 | Ashton,Alannah | 1,973 | 9th Crewe Congress 2026 | B32 |
| Mar 2026 | Harry Gardiner | 1,947 | Staffordshire Chess Congress 2026: Open | B32 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Wight Masters | 2026 | 9 | 3.5 | 2,014 |
| Coventry Int. Open | 2025 | 9 | 4 | 1,938 |
| ch-BCF U14 Blitz | 2024 | 9 | 4.5 | 1,671 |
| ch-BCF U14 rapid | 2024 | 9 | 4.5 | 1,564 |
| Hastings Masters 2025-26 | 2026 | 9 | 3 | 1,865 |
| 2026 British Chess Championships: Under 16 | 2026 | 7 | 3.5 | 1,843 |
| ch-BCF U14 | 2024 | 7 | 3.5 | 1,672 |
| Staffordshire Chess Congress 2026: Open | 2026 | 5 | 2 | 1,995 |
Interactive opening tree from all 79 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find James Ratcliffe's chess games?
79 games by James Ratcliffe, from Oct 2023 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 Ratcliffe has played.
What does James Ratcliffe play on the first move as White?
Across 39 games with White in our database, James Ratcliffe opens with 1.e4 (90% of games), 1.Nf3 (5% of games), 1.d4 (5% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, James Ratcliffe answers 1...c5 (74% of games), 1...e5 (26% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (100% of games).
What openings does James Ratcliffe play as White?
As White, James Ratcliffe's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Closed (7 games, 14.3% win rate); King's Indian Attack (4 games, 50.0% win rate); Philidor (2 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 39 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does James Ratcliffe play as Black?
As Black, James Ratcliffe most often plays: Sicilian (8 games, 37.5% win rate); Sicilian: Closed (4 games, 0.0% win rate); Queen's Indian Defense (4 games, 25.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 40 games.
What is James Ratcliffe's FIDE rating?
James Ratcliffe is currently rated 1,892 in classical chess, 1,814 in rapid and 1,791 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,932 (Mar 2026).
How many games has James Ratcliffe played?
Our database contains 79 games by James Ratcliffe, covering Oct 2023 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 24 wins, 21 draws, 34 losses (30.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against James Ratcliffe?
79 games by James Ratcliffe 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.