Prepare against Marvin Gao
CM · United States · World #8,303 classical · FIDE ID 30920175
When preparing against Marvin Gao, expect 1.e4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (56% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (43%).
Our database contains 33 games by Marvin Gao, covering Dec 2015 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Marvin Gao's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Marvin Gao 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 | 2,200 | 2,250 | Nov 2025 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 33 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 42.4% |
| As White | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 53.3% |
| As Black | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 33.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Marvin Gao's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Marvin Gao's side.
First moves as White (15 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 15 | 100.0% | 70.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 100% of White games, 70.0% score
- …c5 (40% of these games) — Gao usually continues Nf3 (75.0% score)
- …e5 (40% of these games) — Gao usually continues Nf3 (66.7% score)
- …c6 (7% of these games) — Gao usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (9 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 5 | 55.6% | 20.0% |
| e6 | 4 | 44.4% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (7 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 3 | 42.9% | 50.0% |
| d5 | 2 | 28.6% | 75.0% |
| e6 | 2 | 28.6% | 50.0% |
Marvin Gao's chess games
All 33 games by Marvin Gao in the Chess.ceo database (Dec 2015 - 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: 14 wins, 9 draws, 10 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B30 | Sicilian | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C87 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| B17 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| B76 | Sicilian: Dragon | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C70 | Ruy Lopez: Fianchetto | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B30 | Sicilian: Rossolimo | 4 | 0/1/3 | 0.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| D02 | Horwitz Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A50 | Indian Defense | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| D02 | London System | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| A43 | Benoni Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| E07 | English Opening | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B28 | Sicilian | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C00 | French Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | Shlyakhtenko,Robert | 2,446 | 54th Annual World Open | B30 |
| Jan 2022 | Cesar Jose Valido Bouza | 2,164 | 7th Estero Gulf Coast Open | B06 |
| Oct 2023 | Theodore Slade | 2,027 | Gulf Coast Open | C70 |
| Oct 2023 | Sai Sattaru Tej | 2,001 | Gulf Coast Open | C78 |
| Jul 2017 | Vyom Vidyarthi | 1,934 | ch-Pan American U10 | D02 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wch U08 | 2016 | 11 | 7 | 1,602 |
| ch-Pan American U10 | 2017 | 4 | 3 | 1,901 |
| 7th Estero Gulf Coast Open | 2022 | 3 | 1.5 | 2,224 |
| 54th Annual World Open | 2026 | 3 | 1.5 | 2,374 |
| Gulf Coast Open | 2023 | 3 | 2.5 | 2,409 |
| 19th Coral Springs Turkey Bowl Open | 2021 | 2 | 0.5 | 1,956 |
| Fort Lauderdale Turkey Bowl 21st | 2023 | 2 | 1.5 | 2,427 |
| 50th World Open | 2022 | 1 | 0.5 | 2,048 |
Interactive opening tree from all 33 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Marvin Gao's chess games?
33 games by Marvin Gao, from Dec 2015 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 Marvin Gao has played.
What does Marvin Gao play on the first move as White?
Across 15 games with White in our database, Marvin Gao opens with 1.e4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Marvin Gao answers 1...c5 (56% of games), 1...e6 (44% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (43% of games), 1...d5 (29% of games), 1...e6 (29% of games).
What openings does Marvin Gao play as White?
As White, Marvin Gao's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Najdorf (3 games, 66.7% win rate); Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate); Sicilian (2 games, 100.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 15 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Marvin Gao play as Black?
As Black, Marvin Gao most often plays: Sicilian: Rossolimo (4 games, 0.0% win rate); French: Advance Variation (2 games, 50.0% win rate); Horwitz Defense (2 games, 50.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 18 games.
What is Marvin Gao's FIDE rating?
Marvin Gao is currently rated 2,200 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,250 (Nov 2025).
How many games has Marvin Gao played?
Our database contains 33 games by Marvin Gao, covering Dec 2015 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 14 wins, 9 draws, 10 losses (42.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Marvin Gao?
33 games by Marvin Gao 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.