Prepare against Keith Downey
United Kingdom · World #78,671 classical · FIDE ID 10700250
When preparing against Keith Downey, expect 1.Nf3 in 58% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (100%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: English Opening as White, 20.0% over 20 games.
Our database contains 172 games by Keith Downey, covering Jan 2006 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Keith Downey's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Keith Downey 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 | 1,794 | 1,997 | Sep 2010 |
| Blitz | 1,833 | 1,845 | Oct 2024 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 172 | 30 | 69 | 73 | 17.4% |
| As White | 89 | 14 | 40 | 35 | 15.7% |
| As Black | 83 | 16 | 29 | 38 | 19.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Keith Downey's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Keith Downey's side.
First moves as White (89 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 52 | 58.4% | 38.5% |
| c4 | 29 | 32.6% | 37.9% |
| d4 | 8 | 9.0% | 37.5% |
Main lines as White
- 1.Nf3 — 58% of White games, 38.5% score
- …Nf6 (44% of these games) — Downey usually continues c4 (45.0% score)
- …d5 (21% of these games) — Downey usually continues d4 (30.0% score)
- …g6 (13% of these games) — Downey usually continues d4 (20.0% score)
- 1.c4 — 33% of White games, 37.9% score
- …e5 (38% of these games) — Downey usually continues Nc3 (20.0% score)
- …Nf6 (17% of these games) — Downey usually continues Nf3 (66.7% score)
- …c5 (10% of these games) — Downey usually continues Nf3 (66.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (42 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 42 | 100.0% | 34.5% |
As Black against 1.d4 (29 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 29 | 100.0% | 43.1% |
Keith Downey's chess games
All 172 games by Keith Downey in the Chess.ceo database (Jan 2006 - 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: 30 wins, 69 draws, 73 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A39 | English Opening | 20 | 4/6/10 | 20.0% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 11 | 1/3/7 | 9.1% |
| A04 | Modern Defense | 8 | 0/4/4 | 0.0% |
| D11 | Slav Defense | 8 | 2/3/3 | 25.0% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 7 | 0/5/2 | 0.0% |
| E09 | Catalan | 6 | 1/4/1 | 16.7% |
| A31 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
| A21 | Queen's Pawn Game | 5 | 0/4/1 | 0.0% |
| E68 | Indian Defense | 5 | 1/2/2 | 20.0% |
| A53 | Old Indian | 3 | 1/1/1 | 33.3% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A05 | Sicilian | 13 | 3/6/4 | 23.1% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 12 | 2/4/6 | 16.7% |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 10 | 2/4/4 | 20.0% |
| E15 | Queen's Indian Defense | 8 | 3/1/4 | 37.5% |
| B14 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 4 | 1/0/3 | 25.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 4 | 0/2/2 | 0.0% |
| B92 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| A30 | English Opening | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| B47 | Sicilian: Taimanov | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2002 | Suan Shiau Quek | 2,267 | West Wales Open | A21 |
| Oct 2009 | Colin Purdon | 2,102 | 35th Guernsey Open | E58 |
| Mar 2013 | Thomas Brown | 2,091 | ch-WLS | A47 |
| Oct 2015 | Oliver A Jackson | 2,077 | 41st Guernsey Open | A41 |
| Oct 2009 | Cornelius Ippel | 2,073 | 35th Guernsey Open | D45 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-WLS | 2013 | 14 | 4.5 | 1,916 |
| West Wales Open | 2002 | 14 | 6 | 2,140 |
| Guernsey Open | 2013 | 14 | 6.5 | 2,012 |
| 13th Gibraltar Masters | 2015 | 10 | 3.5 | 1,782 |
| South Wales Winter Open | 2008 | 9 | 3 | 1,864 |
| 15th South Wales Open | 2018 | 9 | 4 | 1,844 |
| 35th Guernsey Open | 2009 | 7 | 4.5 | 2,221 |
| 42nd Guernsey Open | 2016 | 7 | 1.5 | 1,671 |
Interactive opening tree from all 172 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Keith Downey's chess games?
172 games by Keith Downey, from Jan 2006 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 Keith Downey has played.
What does Keith Downey play on the first move as White?
Across 89 games with White in our database, Keith Downey opens with 1.Nf3 (58% of games), 1.c4 (33% of games), 1.d4 (9% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Keith Downey answers 1...c5 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (100% of games).
What openings does Keith Downey play as White?
As White, Keith Downey's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening (20 games, 20.0% win rate); English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (11 games, 9.1% win rate); Modern Defense (8 games, 0.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 89 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Keith Downey play as Black?
As Black, Keith Downey most often plays: Sicilian (13 games, 23.1% win rate); Sicilian: Closed (12 games, 16.7% win rate); Indian Defense (10 games, 20.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 83 games.
What is Keith Downey's FIDE rating?
Keith Downey is currently rated 1,794 in classical chess and 1,833 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,997 (Sep 2010).
How many games has Keith Downey played?
Our database contains 172 games by Keith Downey, covering Jan 2006 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 30 wins, 69 draws, 73 losses (17.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Keith Downey?
172 games by Keith Downey 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.