Prepare against John So
DNK · World #141,086 classical · FIDE ID 1426613
When preparing against John So, expect 1.e4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (86% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (50%).
Our database contains 39 games by John So, covering Jul 2013 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find John So's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout John So 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 | 1,617 | 1,646 | Oct 2025 |
| Rapid | 1,637 | 1,637 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 39 | 16 | 2 | 21 | 41.0% |
| As White | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 50.0% |
| As Black | 21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 33.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of John So's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from John So's side.
First moves as White (18 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 18 | 100.0% | 52.8% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 100% of White games, 52.8% score
- …e5 (28% of these games) — So usually continues Nf3 (80.0% score)
- …c5 (28% of these games) — So usually continues Nf3 (40.0% score)
- …e6 (17% of these games) — So usually continues d4 (16.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (7 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 6 | 85.7% | 66.7% |
| e5 | 1 | 14.3% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (10 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 5 | 50.0% | 10.0% |
| e6 | 3 | 30.0% | 0.0% |
| b5 | 1 | 10.0% | 0.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 10.0% | 0.0% |
John So's chess games
All 39 games by John So in the Chess.ceo database (Jul 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: 16 wins, 2 draws, 21 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A41 | Philidor | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| B72 | Sicilian: Dragon | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| C64 | Ruy Lopez: Classical | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C44 | Scotch Game | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B84 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A00 | French: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B40 | Sicilian | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A16 | English Opening: Slav Setup | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A47 | Horwitz Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| A53 | Indian Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| A40 | Polish Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| D06 | Queen's Gambit | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B46 | Sicilian: Four Knights | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2013 | Birger Jarulf | 1,728 | Nordea Cup C | B12 |
| Jan 2015 | Ole Rasmussen | 1,639 | Hillerod Byturnering D | B73 |
| Jan 2015 | Jens Hviid | 1,584 | Hillerod Byturnering D | B07 |
| Jun 2017 | Tue Rabjerg | 1,433 | ch-Hillerod D | B23 |
| May 2016 | Hardy Hansen | 1,401 | Hillerod Byturnering D | B12 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillerod Byturnering D | 2019 | 18 | 7 | 1,412 |
| ch-Hillerod D | 2017 | 9 | 6 | 1,428 |
| Nordea Cup C | 2013 | 5 | 1.5 | 1,532 |
| ch-Hillerod E | 2022 | 4 | 2.5 | 1,325 |
| Hillerod Nordea Cup D | 2014 | 3 | 0 | 1,138 |
Interactive opening tree from all 39 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find John So's chess games?
39 games by John So, from Jul 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 John So has played.
What does John So play on the first move as White?
Across 18 games with White in our database, John So opens with 1.e4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, John So answers 1...c5 (86% of games), 1...e5 (14% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (50% of games), 1...e6 (30% of games), 1...b5 (10% of games).
What openings does John So play as White?
As White, John So's most-played openings in our database are: Philidor (2 games, 50.0% win rate); Pirc Defense (2 games, 100.0% win rate); Sicilian (2 games, 0.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 18 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does John So play as Black?
As Black, John So most often plays: Sicilian (3 games, 66.7% win rate); English Opening: Slav Setup (2 games, 50.0% win rate); Horwitz Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 21 games.
What is John So's FIDE rating?
John So is currently rated 1,617 in classical chess, 1,637 in rapid. Peak classical rating: 1,646 (Oct 2025).
How many games has John So played?
Our database contains 39 games by John So, covering Jul 2013 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 16 wins, 2 draws, 21 losses (41.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against John So?
39 games by John So 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.