Prepare against Maxim Kulaev
FM · Russia · World #3,815 classical · FIDE ID 34189049
When preparing against Maxim Kulaev, expect 1.d4 in 56% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (64% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (50%).
Our database contains 112 games by Maxim Kulaev, covering Dec 2014 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Maxim Kulaev's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Maxim Kulaev 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 | 2,309 | 2,355 | Apr 2025 |
| Rapid | 2,309 | 2,309 | Jul 2026 |
| Blitz | 2,294 | 2,345 | Apr 2025 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 112 | 37 | 42 | 33 | 33.0% |
| As White | 57 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 35.1% |
| As Black | 55 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 30.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Maxim Kulaev's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Maxim Kulaev's side.
First moves as White (57 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 32 | 56.1% | 59.4% |
| c4 | 11 | 19.3% | 50.0% |
| Nf3 | 9 | 15.8% | 55.6% |
| e4 | 5 | 8.8% | 60.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 56% of White games, 59.4% score
- …Nf6 (72% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues c4 (42.9% score)
- …d5 (22% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (3% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues c4 (100.0% score)
- 1.c4 — 19% of White games, 50.0% score
- …e5 (55% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (27% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues g3 (75.0% score)
- …c5 (9% of these games) — Kulaev usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (28 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 18 | 64.3% | 47.2% |
| e6 | 6 | 21.4% | 41.7% |
| e5 | 2 | 7.1% | 0.0% |
| c6 | 2 | 7.1% | 75.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (18 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 9 | 50.0% | 77.8% |
| e6 | 5 | 27.8% | 30.0% |
| Nf6 | 4 | 22.2% | 37.5% |
Maxim Kulaev's chess games
All 112 games by Maxim Kulaev in the Chess.ceo database (Dec 2014 - Jul 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: 37 wins, 42 draws, 33 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E12 | Queen's Indian Defense | 8 | 3/2/3 | 37.5% |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
| D11 | Slav Defense | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| E04 | Catalan | 5 | 2/2/1 | 40.0% |
| D37 | Indian Defense | 5 | 1/3/1 | 20.0% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| A13 | English Opening | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| D37 | Indian Defense: Dzindzi-Indian | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| A90 | Dutch Defense | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| E73 | King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 8 | 2/2/4 | 25.0% |
| D31 | Semi-Slav Defense | 5 | 0/3/2 | 0.0% |
| B76 | Sicilian: Dragon | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| C19 | French: Winawer Variation | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| D30 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| E04 | Catalan | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A04 | Réti Opening | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| A13 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| A34 | Sicilian | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| D31 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2022 | Tagir Salemgareev | 2,494 | Cheliabinsk Panchenko Memorial Open A | E12 |
| Oct 2024 | Arsen Kukhmazov | 2,480 | TCh-RUS Blitz 2024 | E04 |
| May 2024 | Ramil Faizrakhmanov | 2,478 | chT2-RUS | B90 |
| Jun 2014 | Ivan Bocharov | 2,473 | Saratov Shestoperov Memorial U11 | B50 |
| Mar 2024 | Saidakbar Saydaliev | 2,445 | Moscow Aeroflot Open A | D37 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheliabinsk Panchenko Memorial Open A | 2022 | 10 | 5.5 | 2,337 |
| 16th Moscow Open A | 2020 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,353 |
| Saratov Shestoperov Memorial U11 | 2014 | 9 | 7 | 2,695 |
| St Petersburg Korchnoi Memorial Open | 2024 | 9 | 6 | 2,162 |
| 15th Moscow Open A | 2019 | 9 | 4 | 2,181 |
| ch-RUS U20 | 2024 | 9 | 3 | 2,300 |
| Aeroflot Open A | 2025 | 8 | 3.5 | 2,399 |
| chT2-RUS | 2024 | 8 | 4.5 | 2,309 |
Interactive opening tree from all 112 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Maxim Kulaev's chess games?
112 games by Maxim Kulaev, from Dec 2014 to Jul 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 Maxim Kulaev has played.
What does Maxim Kulaev play on the first move as White?
Across 57 games with White in our database, Maxim Kulaev opens with 1.d4 (56% of games), 1.c4 (19% of games), 1.Nf3 (16% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Maxim Kulaev answers 1...c5 (64% of games), 1...e6 (21% of games), 1...e5 (7% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (50% of games), 1...e6 (28% of games), 1...Nf6 (22% of games).
What openings does Maxim Kulaev play as White?
As White, Maxim Kulaev's most-played openings in our database are: Queen's Indian Defense (8 games, 37.5% win rate); English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (6 games, 33.3% win rate); Slav Defense (6 games, 33.3% win rate). The full breakdown of 57 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Maxim Kulaev play as Black?
As Black, Maxim Kulaev most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (8 games, 25.0% win rate); Semi-Slav Defense (5 games, 0.0% win rate); Sicilian: Dragon (4 games, 75.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 55 games.
What is Maxim Kulaev's FIDE rating?
Maxim Kulaev is currently rated 2,309 in classical chess, 2,309 in rapid and 2,294 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,355 (Apr 2025).
How many games has Maxim Kulaev played?
Our database contains 112 games by Maxim Kulaev, covering Dec 2014 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 37 wins, 42 draws, 33 losses (33.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Maxim Kulaev?
112 games by Maxim Kulaev 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.