Prepare against Andrei Kovalev
GM · Belarus · World #1,646 classical · FIDE ID 13500023
When preparing against Andrei Kovalev, expect 1.e4 in 98% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (80% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (88%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense as White, 5.6% over 18 games.
Our database contains 1,190 games by Andrei Kovalev, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Andrei Kovalev's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Andrei Kovalev 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 | 2,402 | 2,575 | Oct 2004 |
| Rapid | 2,302 | 2,475 | Feb 2015 |
| Blitz | 2,248 | 2,476 | Jul 2017 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1,190 | 455 | 583 | 151 | 38.2% |
| As White | 588 | 255 | 272 | 60 | 43.4% |
| As Black | 602 | 200 | 311 | 91 | 33.2% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Andrei Kovalev's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Andrei Kovalev's side.
First moves as White (588 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 574 | 97.6% | 66.8% |
| Nf3 | 13 | 2.2% | 53.8% |
| c4 | 1 | 0.2% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 98% of White games, 66.8% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Kovalev usually continues Nf3 (65.3% score)
- …e5 (29% of these games) — Kovalev usually continues Nf3 (65.8% score)
- …e6 (10% of these games) — Kovalev usually continues d4 (64.0% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 2% of White games, 53.8% score
- …Nf6 (85% of these games) — Kovalev usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
- …d5 (15% of these games) — Kovalev usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (299 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 240 | 80.3% | 62.5% |
| e5 | 26 | 8.7% | 48.1% |
| e6 | 16 | 5.4% | 46.9% |
| d6 | 9 | 3.0% | 66.7% |
| g6 | 6 | 2.0% | 50.0% |
| c6 | 2 | 0.7% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (248 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 218 | 87.9% | 58.5% |
| d6 | 15 | 6.0% | 60.0% |
| d5 | 8 | 3.2% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 6 | 2.4% | 33.3% |
| e6 | 1 | 0.4% | 50.0% |
Andrei Kovalev's chess games
All 1,190 games by Andrei Kovalev 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: 455 wins, 583 draws, 151 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B50 | Sicilian | 60 | 31/22/7 | 51.7% |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 46 | 15/27/4 | 32.6% |
| B31 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 44 | 20/21/3 | 45.5% |
| C88 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 39 | 11/23/4 | 28.2% |
| B92 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 35 | 12/18/5 | 34.3% |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 34 | 19/14/1 | 55.9% |
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 19 | 8/9/2 | 42.1% |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 18 | 1/14/3 | 5.6% |
| B47 | Sicilian: Taimanov | 17 | 6/10/1 | 35.3% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 16 | 10/3/3 | 62.5% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B42 | Sicilian | 146 | 63/59/24 | 43.2% |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 67 | 16/37/14 | 23.9% |
| E62 | Indian Defense | 58 | 21/28/9 | 36.2% |
| E62 | King's Indian Defense | 33 | 12/16/5 | 36.4% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 24 | 7/13/4 | 29.2% |
| A42 | Modern Defense | 20 | 4/12/4 | 20.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 19 | 10/8/1 | 52.6% |
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 15 | 5/9/1 | 33.3% |
| E81 | King's Indian: Sämisch | 13 | 3/7/3 | 23.1% |
| C95 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 13 | 0/12/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2009 | Tomasz Markowski | 2,627 | Dresden ZMD Open | B07 |
| Jul 2008 | Alexander Graf | 2,621 | Dresden ZMD Open | C11 |
| Mar 2006 | Alexei Fedorov | 2,608 | ch-BLR | B30 |
| Jan 2004 | David Navara | 2,607 | Krakow Open A | B84 |
| Jul 2010 | Sergei Ovsejevitsch | 2,594 | Dresden ZMD Open | C88 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dresden ZMD Open | 2010 | 35 | 29 | 2,574 |
| 5th Alushta Autumn | 2008 | 26 | 17 | 2,487 |
| 4th Alushta Summer | 2007 | 21 | 16 | 2,629 |
| Botvinnik Cup | 2020 | 20 | 11 | 2,059 |
| Budapest FS03 GM | 2017 | 19 | 10 | 2,481 |
| Budapest FS05 GM | 2015 | 19 | 13.5 | 2,557 |
| Pardubice Open A | 2006 | 15 | 11.5 | 2,674 |
| Alushta May-A | 2009 | 14 | 7.5 | 2,378 |
Interactive opening tree from all 1,190 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Andrei Kovalev's chess games?
1,190 games by Andrei Kovalev, 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 Andrei Kovalev has played.
What does Andrei Kovalev play on the first move as White?
Across 588 games with White in our database, Andrei Kovalev opens with 1.e4 (98% of games), 1.Nf3 (2% of games), 1.c4 (0% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Andrei Kovalev answers 1...c5 (80% of games), 1...e5 (9% of games), 1...e6 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (88% of games), 1...d6 (6% of games), 1...d5 (3% of games).
What openings does Andrei Kovalev play as White?
As White, Andrei Kovalev's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (60 games, 51.7% win rate); Sicilian: Moscow Variation (46 games, 32.6% win rate); Sicilian: Rossolimo (44 games, 45.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 588 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Andrei Kovalev play as Black?
As Black, Andrei Kovalev most often plays: Sicilian (146 games, 43.2% win rate); King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation (67 games, 23.9% win rate); Indian Defense (58 games, 36.2% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 602 games.
What is Andrei Kovalev's FIDE rating?
Andrei Kovalev is currently rated 2,402 in classical chess, 2,302 in rapid and 2,248 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,575 (Oct 2004).
How many games has Andrei Kovalev played?
Our database contains 1,190 games by Andrei Kovalev, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 455 wins, 583 draws, 151 losses (38.2% win rate).
How do I prepare against Andrei Kovalev?
1,190 games by Andrei Kovalev 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.