Prepare against Michael Hammes
IM · DEU · World #4,402 classical · FIDE ID 4619358
When preparing against Michael Hammes, expect 1.d4 in 98% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (97% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (63%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: French: Classical Variation as Black, 11.8% over 17 games.
Our database contains 799 games by Michael Hammes, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Michael Hammes's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Michael Hammes 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 | 2,291 | 2,399 | Mar 2011 |
| Rapid | 2,242 | 2,359 | Sep 2016 |
| Blitz | 2,318 | 2,379 | Mar 2019 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 799 | 311 | 294 | 194 | 38.9% |
| As White | 415 | 180 | 147 | 88 | 43.4% |
| As Black | 384 | 131 | 147 | 106 | 34.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Michael Hammes's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Michael Hammes's side.
First moves as White (410 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 401 | 97.8% | 60.8% |
| e4 | 4 | 1.0% | 87.5% |
| f4 | 4 | 1.0% | 50.0% |
| Nf3 | 1 | 0.2% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 98% of White games, 60.8% score
- …Nf6 (55% of these games) — Hammes usually continues c4 (58.1% score)
- …d5 (29% of these games) — Hammes usually continues c4 (57.6% score)
- …d6 (4% of these games) — Hammes usually continues c4 (71.4% score)
- 1.e4 — 1% of White games, 87.5% score
- …c5 (50% of these games) — Hammes usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
- …e5 (25% of these games) — Hammes usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (25% of these games) — Hammes usually continues d4 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (177 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 172 | 97.2% | 54.9% |
| c5 | 2 | 1.1% | 100.0% |
| d5 | 2 | 1.1% | 50.0% |
| Nc6 | 1 | 0.6% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (135 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 85 | 63.0% | 49.4% |
| f5 | 19 | 14.1% | 63.2% |
| Nf6 | 18 | 13.3% | 41.7% |
| d5 | 11 | 8.1% | 59.1% |
| g6 | 1 | 0.7% | 100.0% |
Michael Hammes's chess games
All 799 games by Michael Hammes 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: 311 wins, 294 draws, 194 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E97 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 55 | 26/15/14 | 47.3% |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 54 | 15/25/14 | 27.8% |
| D36 | Indian Defense | 54 | 30/17/7 | 55.6% |
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 33 | 15/15/3 | 45.5% |
| E14 | Queen's Indian Defense | 28 | 5/16/7 | 17.9% |
| D85 | Grünfeld Defense | 27 | 10/11/6 | 37.0% |
| A21 | Queen's Pawn Game | 17 | 10/5/2 | 58.8% |
| E46 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 17 | 7/4/6 | 41.2% |
| E11 | Bogo-Indian Defense | 17 | 8/5/4 | 47.1% |
| A87 | Dutch Defense | 14 | 8/4/2 | 57.1% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D36 | Indian Defense | 56 | 17/22/17 | 30.4% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 52 | 16/21/15 | 30.8% |
| C06 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 47 | 16/23/8 | 34.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 21 | 10/5/6 | 47.6% |
| A89 | Dutch Defense | 20 | 11/4/5 | 55.0% |
| E05 | Catalan | 18 | 8/4/6 | 44.4% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 17 | 2/10/5 | 11.8% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 16 | 6/6/4 | 37.5% |
| A46 | Horwitz Defense | 15 | 3/9/3 | 20.0% |
| C00 | French Defense | 12 | 5/5/2 | 41.7% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2009 | Rafael A Vaganian | 2,590 | BL2-West 0809 | D37 |
| Dec 2001 | Gerald Hertneck | 2,572 | 73rd ch-GER | C05 |
| Dec 2001 | Eric Lobron | 2,524 | 73rd ch-GER | A55 |
| Jan 1997 | Christoph Pragua | 2,517 | BL2-West 9697 | D85 |
| Oct 1999 | Karl-Heinz Podzielny | 2,512 | 10th Goch Open | E94 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-POR | 2022 | 57 | 29.5 | 2,312 |
| ch-RLPF U20 | 1994 | 21 | 14 | 2,221 |
| ch-RLPF U15 | 1989 | 14 | 8.5 | – |
| Bundesliga 1993-94 | 1994 | 13 | 3.5 | 2,218 |
| Neuwied Open | 1994 | 12 | 7 | 2,415 |
| St Ingbert Open | 2001 | 12 | 9 | 2,431 |
| RL Open | 1991 | 11 | 9.5 | – |
| 1st Kali Cup | 2002 | 11 | 7 | 2,376 |
Interactive opening tree from all 799 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Michael Hammes's chess games?
799 games by Michael Hammes, 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 Michael Hammes has played.
What does Michael Hammes play on the first move as White?
Across 410 games with White in our database, Michael Hammes opens with 1.d4 (98% of games), 1.e4 (1% of games), 1.f4 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Michael Hammes answers 1...e6 (97% of games), 1...c5 (1% of games), 1...d5 (1% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (63% of games), 1...f5 (14% of games), 1...Nf6 (13% of games).
What openings does Michael Hammes play as White?
As White, Michael Hammes's most-played openings in our database are: King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation (55 games, 47.3% win rate); Slav Defense (54 games, 27.8% win rate); Indian Defense (54 games, 55.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 415 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Michael Hammes play as Black?
As Black, Michael Hammes most often plays: Indian Defense (56 games, 30.4% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (52 games, 30.8% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (47 games, 34.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 384 games.
What is Michael Hammes's FIDE rating?
Michael Hammes is currently rated 2,291 in classical chess, 2,242 in rapid and 2,318 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,399 (Mar 2011).
How many games has Michael Hammes played?
Our database contains 799 games by Michael Hammes, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 311 wins, 294 draws, 194 losses (38.9% win rate).
How do I prepare against Michael Hammes?
799 games by Michael Hammes 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.