Prepare against Matthew J Payne
United Kingdom · World #16,129 classical · FIDE ID 417084
When preparing against Matthew J Payne, expect 1.e4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (100%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Italian Game as White, 12.5% over 16 games.
Our database contains 509 games by Matthew J Payne, covering Sep 2009 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Matthew J Payne's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Matthew J Payne 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 | 2,093 | 2,189 | May 2019 |
| Rapid | 2,037 | 2,037 | Aug 2026 |
| Blitz | 1,978 | 2,111 | Aug 2022 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 509 | 186 | 124 | 199 | 36.5% |
| As White | 256 | 92 | 63 | 101 | 35.9% |
| As Black | 253 | 94 | 61 | 98 | 37.2% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Matthew J Payne's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Matthew J Payne's side.
First moves as White (256 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 255 | 99.6% | 48.4% |
| d4 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 100% of White games, 48.4% score
- …c5 (37% of these games) — Payne usually continues Nc3 (46.4% score)
- …e5 (21% of these games) — Payne usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (16% of these games) — Payne usually continues d4 (58.8% score)
- 1.d4 — 0% of White games, 0.0% score
- …Nf6 (100% of these games) — Payne usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (105 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 105 | 100.0% | 52.9% |
As Black against 1.d4 (100 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 100 | 100.0% | 47.0% |
Matthew J Payne's chess games
All 509 games by Matthew J Payne in the Chess.ceo database (Sep 2009 - 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: 186 wins, 124 draws, 199 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 69 | 22/20/27 | 31.9% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 18 | 7/4/7 | 38.9% |
| C56 | Italian Game | 16 | 2/6/8 | 12.5% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 16 | 4/3/9 | 25.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 14 | 6/2/6 | 42.9% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Fantasy Variation | 13 | 3/5/5 | 23.1% |
| C42 | Petrov's Defense | 13 | 8/2/3 | 61.5% |
| C14 | French: Classical Variation | 12 | 8/3/1 | 66.7% |
| B40 | Sicilian | 12 | 2/3/7 | 16.7% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 11 | 5/2/4 | 45.5% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C04 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 36 | 14/9/13 | 38.9% |
| E70 | King's Indian Defense | 24 | 7/8/9 | 29.2% |
| C10 | French Defense | 21 | 9/6/6 | 42.9% |
| E61 | Indian Defense | 21 | 7/3/11 | 33.3% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 17 | 5/4/8 | 29.4% |
| A16 | English Opening | 16 | 7/3/6 | 43.8% |
| E92 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 16 | 6/4/6 | 37.5% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 16 | 8/3/5 | 50.0% |
| A05 | Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense | 11 | 2/5/4 | 18.2% |
| E73 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | 10 | 2/4/4 | 20.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2024 | Anatole Vlachos | 2,479 | Titled Tue Late | C07 |
| Feb 2023 | Peter T Roberson | 2,426 | Cambridge Open | B23 |
| Aug 2025 | Emilio Moreno Tejera | 2,418 | Maia Chess Open | B32 |
| Dec 2025 | Stefan Mazur | 2,392 | Titled Tue | B00 |
| Feb 2023 | Bao Nghia Dong | 2,361 | Cambridge Open | C02 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titled Tuesday | 2026 | 88 | 32.5 | 2,095 |
| Speed Chess Q2 Sw | 2023 | 13 | 2.5 | 2,022 |
| 103rd ch-GBR | 2016 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,270 |
| chT-BCF 2122 (4NCL) | 2022 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,163 |
| 94th Hastings Masters | 2019 | 10 | 5 | 2,213 |
| Hastings Masters Open | 2023 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,034 |
| ch-GRB Universities | 2017 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,076 |
| Brighton Open | 2012 | 10 | 6 | 2,043 |
Interactive opening tree from all 509 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Matthew J Payne's chess games?
509 games by Matthew J Payne, from Sep 2009 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 Matthew J Payne has played.
What does Matthew J Payne play on the first move as White?
Across 256 games with White in our database, Matthew J Payne opens with 1.e4 (100% of games), 1.d4 (0% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Matthew J Payne answers 1...e6 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (100% of games).
What openings does Matthew J Payne play as White?
As White, Matthew J Payne's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Closed (69 games, 31.9% win rate); Scotch Game (18 games, 38.9% win rate); Italian Game (16 games, 12.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 256 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Matthew J Payne play as Black?
As Black, Matthew J Payne most often plays: French: Tarrasch Variation (36 games, 38.9% win rate); King's Indian Defense (24 games, 29.2% win rate); French Defense (21 games, 42.9% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 253 games.
What is Matthew J Payne's FIDE rating?
Matthew J Payne is currently rated 2,093 in classical chess, 2,037 in rapid and 1,978 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,189 (May 2019).
How many games has Matthew J Payne played?
Our database contains 509 games by Matthew J Payne, covering Sep 2009 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 186 wins, 124 draws, 199 losses (36.5% win rate).
How do I prepare against Matthew J Payne?
509 games by Matthew J Payne 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.