Prepare against James Rizzitano
IM · United States · World #18,071 classical · FIDE ID 2000806
When preparing against James Rizzitano, expect 1.d4 in 45% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (68% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (77%).
Our database contains 136 games by James Rizzitano, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find James Rizzitano's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout James Rizzitano 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 | 2,214 | 2,395 | Apr 2004 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 136 | 58 | 35 | 43 | 42.6% |
| As White | 60 | 27 | 14 | 19 | 45.0% |
| As Black | 76 | 31 | 21 | 24 | 40.8% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of James Rizzitano's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from James Rizzitano's side.
First moves as White (60 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 27 | 45.0% | 55.6% |
| e4 | 25 | 41.7% | 58.0% |
| Nf3 | 5 | 8.3% | 50.0% |
| c4 | 3 | 5.0% | 66.7% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 45% of White games, 55.6% score
- …Nf6 (67% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
- …d5 (15% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues c4 (62.5% score)
- …e6 (11% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues c4 (66.7% score)
- 1.e4 — 42% of White games, 58.0% score
- …c5 (60% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues Nf3 (60.0% score)
- …e5 (16% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …c6 (8% of these games) — Rizzitano usually continues d4 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (34 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 23 | 67.6% | 54.3% |
| e5 | 7 | 20.6% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 3 | 8.8% | 33.3% |
| Nc6 | 1 | 2.9% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (30 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 23 | 76.7% | 52.2% |
| d5 | 6 | 20.0% | 58.3% |
| g6 | 1 | 3.3% | 100.0% |
James Rizzitano's chess games
All 136 games by James Rizzitano in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 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: 58 wins, 35 draws, 43 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A65 | King's Indian: Sämisch | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| A05 | Sicilian | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| D30 | Slav Defense | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| E12 | Queen's Indian Defense | 3 | 3/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| A43 | Benoni Defense | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| C16 | French: Winawer Variation | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| A22 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| D36 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B32 | Sicilian | 7 | 3/1/3 | 42.9% |
| E43 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 5 | 2/2/1 | 40.0% |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| A22 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
| B82 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| D07 | Queen's Gambit | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| C63 | Ruy Lopez: Schliemann | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
| A40 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1989 | Danny Kopec | 2,516 | Queen City Open 13th | B06 |
| Jan 1984 | Lev Alburt | 2,515 | New York | E73 |
| Jan 1989 | Dmitry Gurevich | 2,480 | Midwest Masters Open | A05 |
| Feb 1989 | John Curdo | 2,463 | Queen City Open 13th | A80 |
| Jan 1988 | John S Burke | 2,435 | National Open | E43 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midwest Masters Open | 1989 | 14 | 10 | 2,519 |
| 89th US Open | 1988 | 11 | 9 | 2,605 |
| New York Heraldica-Ruslan Satellite | 1983 | 11 | 6.5 | 2,417 |
| New England Masters | 2007 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,393 |
| New York International | 1984 | 9 | 4 | 2,412 |
| US Open-90 | 1989 | 9 | 6.5 | 2,530 |
| World Open | 1988 | 6 | 2 | 2,282 |
| National Open | 1988 | 6 | 4.5 | 2,636 |
Interactive opening tree from all 136 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find James Rizzitano's chess games?
136 games by James Rizzitano, from Apr 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 James Rizzitano has played.
What does James Rizzitano play on the first move as White?
Across 60 games with White in our database, James Rizzitano opens with 1.d4 (45% of games), 1.e4 (42% of games), 1.Nf3 (8% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, James Rizzitano answers 1...c5 (68% of games), 1...e5 (21% of games), 1...g6 (9% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (77% of games), 1...d5 (20% of games), 1...g6 (3% of games).
What openings does James Rizzitano play as White?
As White, James Rizzitano's most-played openings in our database are: King's Indian: Sämisch (5 games, 40.0% win rate); Sicilian (4 games, 50.0% win rate); Slav Defense (4 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 60 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does James Rizzitano play as Black?
As Black, James Rizzitano most often plays: Sicilian (7 games, 42.9% win rate); Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System (6 games, 33.3% win rate); Modern Defense (5 games, 40.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 76 games.
What is James Rizzitano's FIDE rating?
James Rizzitano is currently rated 2,214 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,395 (Apr 2004).
How many games has James Rizzitano played?
Our database contains 136 games by James Rizzitano, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 58 wins, 35 draws, 43 losses (42.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against James Rizzitano?
136 games by James Rizzitano 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.