Prepare against Kornel Szalai
IM · Hungary · World #2,806 classical · FIDE ID 724378
When preparing against Kornel Szalai, expect 1.Nf3 in 60% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (40% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (59%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Scandinavian Defense: Main Line as Black, 26.3% over 19 games.
Our database contains 347 games by Kornel Szalai, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Kornel Szalai's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Kornel Szalai 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 | 2,345 | 2,419 | Aug 2013 |
| Blitz | 2,414 | 2,414 | Aug 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 347 | 97 | 147 | 103 | 28.0% |
| As White | 173 | 53 | 81 | 39 | 30.6% |
| As Black | 174 | 44 | 66 | 64 | 25.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Kornel Szalai's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Kornel Szalai's side.
First moves as White (173 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 103 | 59.5% | 53.9% |
| c4 | 28 | 16.2% | 50.0% |
| d4 | 20 | 11.6% | 52.5% |
| e4 | 18 | 10.4% | 61.1% |
| g3 | 2 | 1.2% | 25.0% |
| f4 | 2 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.Nf3 — 60% of White games, 53.9% score
- …d5 (44% of these games) — Szalai usually continues c4 (66.7% score)
- …Nf6 (32% of these games) — Szalai usually continues c4 (58.3% score)
- …c5 (17% of these games) — Szalai usually continues c4 (35.0% score)
- 1.c4 — 16% of White games, 50.0% score
- …Nf6 (43% of these games) — Szalai usually continues Nc3 (57.1% score)
- …e5 (18% of these games) — Szalai usually continues Nc3 (33.3% score)
- …c5 (14% of these games) — Szalai usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (90 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 36 | 40.0% | 44.4% |
| d5 | 21 | 23.3% | 50.0% |
| e6 | 19 | 21.1% | 55.3% |
| g6 | 10 | 11.1% | 30.0% |
| c6 | 4 | 4.4% | 25.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (64 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 38 | 59.4% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 20 | 31.3% | 27.5% |
| g6 | 4 | 6.3% | 37.5% |
| d6 | 2 | 3.1% | 25.0% |
Kornel Szalai's chess games
All 347 games by Kornel Szalai in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - 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: 97 wins, 147 draws, 103 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A13 | English Opening | 34 | 9/18/7 | 26.5% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 33 | 11/14/8 | 33.3% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 13 | 4/3/6 | 30.8% |
| C00 | Sicilian | 7 | 2/4/1 | 28.6% |
| E05 | Catalan | 7 | 2/4/1 | 28.6% |
| A21 | Modern Defense | 6 | 4/2/0 | 66.7% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 6 | 0/3/3 | 0.0% |
| A48 | Indian Defense | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| A29 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 5 | 0/4/1 | 0.0% |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 5 | 4/0/1 | 80.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D36 | Indian Defense | 21 | 6/8/7 | 28.6% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 19 | 5/7/7 | 26.3% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 12 | 1/4/7 | 8.3% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 11 | 2/3/6 | 18.2% |
| D44 | Slav Defense | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| C10 | French Defense | 9 | 5/3/1 | 55.6% |
| B70 | Sicilian: Dragon | 6 | 3/3/0 | 50.0% |
| A12 | English Opening | 6 | 2/1/3 | 33.3% |
| C10 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 5 | 0/4/1 | 0.0% |
| E91 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | Gleb Dudin | 2,554 | chT-HUN 2324 | E98 |
| Feb 2020 | Gergely Aczel | 2,515 | chT-HUN 1920 | E60 |
| Sep 2012 | Andrei-Nestor Cioara | 2,496 | chT-ROM | A30 |
| Nov 2012 | Gabor Kovacs | 2,461 | chT-HUN 1213 | E05 |
| Mar 2013 | Lajos Seres | 2,453 | chT-HUN 1213 | E62 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arad Open | 2013 | 13 | 9 | 2,416 |
| chT-HUN 0607 | 2007 | 11 | 3.5 | 2,230 |
| chT2-HUN Maroczy 0001 | 2001 | 11 | 5 | 2,091 |
| chT2-HUN Maroczy 0203 | 2003 | 11 | 8.5 | 2,350 |
| chT-HUN 0809 | 2009 | 11 | 7 | 2,438 |
| chT-HUN 0506 | 2006 | 11 | 6 | 2,394 |
| chT-HUN 0708 | 2008 | 11 | 5 | 2,321 |
| chT-HUN 1112 | 2012 | 11 | 6 | 2,444 |
Interactive opening tree from all 347 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Kornel Szalai's chess games?
347 games by Kornel Szalai, from Apr 2003 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 Kornel Szalai has played.
What does Kornel Szalai play on the first move as White?
Across 173 games with White in our database, Kornel Szalai opens with 1.Nf3 (60% of games), 1.c4 (16% of games), 1.d4 (12% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Kornel Szalai answers 1...c5 (40% of games), 1...d5 (23% of games), 1...e6 (21% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (59% of games), 1...d5 (31% of games), 1...g6 (6% of games).
What openings does Kornel Szalai play as White?
As White, Kornel Szalai's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening (34 games, 26.5% win rate); Réti Opening (33 games, 33.3% win rate); English Opening: Symmetrical (13 games, 30.8% win rate). The full breakdown of 173 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Kornel Szalai play as Black?
As Black, Kornel Szalai most often plays: Indian Defense (21 games, 28.6% win rate); Scandinavian Defense: Main Line (19 games, 26.3% win rate); Modern Defense (12 games, 8.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 174 games.
What is Kornel Szalai's FIDE rating?
Kornel Szalai is currently rated 2,345 in classical chess and 2,414 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,419 (Aug 2013).
How many games has Kornel Szalai played?
Our database contains 347 games by Kornel Szalai, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 97 wins, 147 draws, 103 losses (28.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Kornel Szalai?
347 games by Kornel Szalai 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.