Prepare against Marius Nicula
FM · Canada · World #14,349 classical · FIDE ID 1203096
When preparing against Marius Nicula, expect 1.Nf3 in 42% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (60% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (43%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Modern Defense as Black, 22.6% over 31 games.
Our database contains 247 games by Marius Nicula, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Marius Nicula's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Marius Nicula 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 | 2,113 | 2,225 | Jul 2004 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 247 | 67 | 68 | 112 | 27.1% |
| As White | 122 | 36 | 31 | 55 | 29.5% |
| As Black | 125 | 31 | 37 | 57 | 24.8% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Marius Nicula's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Marius Nicula's side.
First moves as White (122 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 51 | 41.8% | 46.1% |
| d4 | 31 | 25.4% | 40.3% |
| e4 | 28 | 23.0% | 41.1% |
| g3 | 7 | 5.7% | 35.7% |
| c4 | 5 | 4.1% | 30.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.Nf3 — 42% of White games, 46.1% score
- …Nf6 (43% of these games) — Nicula usually continues g3 (53.6% score)
- …d5 (39% of these games) — Nicula usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
- …c5 (6% of these games) — Nicula usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 25% of White games, 40.3% score
- …Nf6 (48% of these games) — Nicula usually continues c4 (57.1% score)
- …g6 (16% of these games) — Nicula usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
- …d5 (13% of these games) — Nicula usually continues c4 (25.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (58 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 35 | 60.3% | 47.1% |
| g6 | 10 | 17.2% | 15.0% |
| c5 | 4 | 6.9% | 25.0% |
| e5 | 4 | 6.9% | 12.5% |
| c6 | 3 | 5.2% | 0.0% |
| Nf6 | 2 | 3.4% | 25.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (40 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 17 | 42.5% | 70.6% |
| g6 | 12 | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| d5 | 6 | 15.0% | 33.3% |
| Nf6 | 3 | 7.5% | 50.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 2.5% | 100.0% |
| c5 | 1 | 2.5% | 0.0% |
Marius Nicula's chess games
All 247 games by Marius Nicula in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Sep 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: 67 wins, 68 draws, 112 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A07 | Réti Opening | 30 | 12/7/11 | 40.0% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 9 | 3/1/5 | 33.3% |
| A04 | Modern Defense | 7 | 2/2/3 | 28.6% |
| E18 | Queen's Indian Defense | 5 | 0/3/2 | 0.0% |
| A64 | Catalan | 5 | 1/1/3 | 20.0% |
| A04 | Dutch Defense | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| B20 | Sicilian | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
| A30 | King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| C48 | Four Knights Game: Spanish Variation | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 3 | 0/3/0 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B06 | Modern Defense | 31 | 7/5/19 | 22.6% |
| A90 | Horwitz Defense | 14 | 10/2/2 | 71.4% |
| C06 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 12 | 1/7/4 | 8.3% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 10 | 4/3/3 | 40.0% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 5 | 2/0/3 | 40.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 5 | 1/4/0 | 20.0% |
| A13 | English Opening | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| A90 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | Gheorghe Ciolac | 2,400 | chT-ROM | C48 |
| Jan 1993 | Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu | 2,395 | Odorheiu Secuiesc Open | E66 |
| Apr 2022 | Olivier-Kenta Chiku-Ratte | 2,364 | Kingston Canada zt | A46 |
| Jan 1992 | Cristian Popescu | 2,340 | chT-ROM | A12 |
| Jan 1992 | Nicolae Seder | 2,335 | chT-ROM | A04 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2026 | 79 | 15 | 1,905 |
| chT-ROM | 1995 | 27 | 10.5 | 2,260 |
| Montreal Open | 2025 | 26 | 14 | 2,163 |
| Montreal Varennes Open | 2018 | 14 | 8 | 2,176 |
| Odorheiu Secuiesc Open | 1993 | 11 | 6 | 2,310 |
| Quebec Open | 2022 | 10 | 4 | 2,040 |
| Laval Open | 2015 | 10 | 7 | 2,152 |
| Montreal Quebec Open | 2007 | 9 | 4 | 2,286 |
Interactive opening tree from all 247 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Marius Nicula's chess games?
247 games by Marius Nicula, from Apr 2003 to Sep 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 Marius Nicula has played.
What does Marius Nicula play on the first move as White?
Across 122 games with White in our database, Marius Nicula opens with 1.Nf3 (42% of games), 1.d4 (25% of games), 1.e4 (23% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Marius Nicula answers 1...e6 (60% of games), 1...g6 (17% of games), 1...c5 (7% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (43% of games), 1...g6 (30% of games), 1...d5 (15% of games).
What openings does Marius Nicula play as White?
As White, Marius Nicula's most-played openings in our database are: Réti Opening (30 games, 40.0% win rate); Indian Defense (9 games, 33.3% win rate); Modern Defense (7 games, 28.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 122 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Marius Nicula play as Black?
As Black, Marius Nicula most often plays: Modern Defense (31 games, 22.6% win rate); Horwitz Defense (14 games, 71.4% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (12 games, 8.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 125 games.
What is Marius Nicula's FIDE rating?
Marius Nicula is currently rated 2,113 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,225 (Jul 2004).
How many games has Marius Nicula played?
Our database contains 247 games by Marius Nicula, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 67 wins, 68 draws, 112 losses (27.1% win rate).
How do I prepare against Marius Nicula?
247 games by Marius Nicula 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.