Prepare against Mikko Niemi
FM · Finland · World #5,974 classical · FIDE ID 505374
When preparing against Mikko Niemi, expect 1.c4 in 89% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...g6 (66% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d6 (85%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Pirc Defense as Black, 23.8% over 21 games.
Our database contains 282 games by Mikko Niemi, covering Oct 2004 to Oct 2026. Below you'll find Mikko Niemi's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Mikko Niemi 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 | 2,248 | 2,322 | Nov 2019 |
| Rapid | 2,182 | 2,258 | Aug 2024 |
| Blitz | 2,192 | 2,313 | Aug 2019 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 282 | 117 | 84 | 81 | 41.5% |
| As White | 148 | 66 | 45 | 37 | 44.6% |
| As Black | 134 | 51 | 39 | 44 | 38.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Mikko Niemi's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Mikko Niemi's side.
First moves as White (148 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c4 | 131 | 88.5% | 60.3% |
| Nf3 | 9 | 6.1% | 55.6% |
| g3 | 7 | 4.7% | 50.0% |
| e4 | 1 | 0.7% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.c4 — 89% of White games, 60.3% score
- …Nf6 (29% of these games) — Niemi usually continues g3 (59.2% score)
- …e5 (20% of these games) — Niemi usually continues g3 (40.4% score)
- …c5 (17% of these games) — Niemi usually continues g3 (76.2% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 6% of White games, 55.6% score
- …c5 (44% of these games) — Niemi usually continues c4 (62.5% score)
- …d5 (22% of these games) — Niemi usually continues c4 (75.0% score)
- …d6 (22% of these games) — Niemi usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (77 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| g6 | 51 | 66.2% | 48.0% |
| d6 | 10 | 13.0% | 30.0% |
| c5 | 8 | 10.4% | 75.0% |
| d5 | 8 | 10.4% | 43.8% |
As Black against 1.d4 (34 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d6 | 29 | 85.3% | 46.6% |
| f5 | 5 | 14.7% | 70.0% |
Mikko Niemi's chess games
All 282 games by Mikko Niemi in the Chess.ceo database (Oct 2004 - Oct 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: 117 wins, 84 draws, 81 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A10 | English Opening | 40 | 14/15/11 | 35.0% |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 29 | 9/7/13 | 31.0% |
| A37 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 28 | 19/4/5 | 67.9% |
| E05 | Catalan | 13 | 5/6/2 | 38.5% |
| A11 | English Opening: Slav Setup | 10 | 5/3/2 | 50.0% |
| A21 | Modern Defense | 7 | 4/2/1 | 57.1% |
| A34 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 7 | 3/3/1 | 42.9% |
| A25 | Hungarian Opening | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| A10 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | 4 | 3/1/0 | 75.0% |
| A40 | English Defense | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B06 | Modern Defense | 61 | 23/16/22 | 37.7% |
| B06 | Pirc Defense | 21 | 5/7/9 | 23.8% |
| A87 | Rat Defense | 12 | 2/5/5 | 16.7% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 8 | 3/1/4 | 37.5% |
| A88 | Dutch Defense | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| A21 | Queen's Pawn Game | 5 | 2/2/1 | 40.0% |
| B06 | Dunst Opening | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| B33 | Sicilian | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| A21 | Hungarian Opening | 3 | 1/2/0 | 33.3% |
| B25 | Sicilian: Closed | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2017 | Andrei Istratescu | 2,599 | Graz Open A | A20 |
| Jan 2010 | Mikhail Ulybin | 2,548 | 39th Rilton Cup | A37 |
| Feb 2017 | Peter Schreiner | 2,494 | Graz Open A | A10 |
| Jan 2024 | Aleksandr Volodin | 2,459 | 33rd Keres Memorial Rapid | A34 |
| Jul 2007 | Deep Sengupta | 2,435 | Dieren Open | A01 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wch U20 | 2008 | 13 | 5.5 | 2,185 |
| Helsinki We X | 2009 | 10 | 7.5 | 2,304 |
| Dieren Open | 2007 | 9 | 5 | 2,369 |
| chT-FIN 0809 | 2009 | 9 | 6 | 2,390 |
| ch-FIN Open | 2009 | 9 | 6.5 | 2,305 |
| 39th Rilton Cup | 2010 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,352 |
| 37th Rilton Cup | 2008 | 9 | 4 | 2,294 |
| ch-FIN | 2007 | 8 | 2.5 | 2,101 |
Interactive opening tree from all 282 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Mikko Niemi's chess games?
282 games by Mikko Niemi, from Oct 2004 to Oct 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 Mikko Niemi has played.
What does Mikko Niemi play on the first move as White?
Across 148 games with White in our database, Mikko Niemi opens with 1.c4 (89% of games), 1.Nf3 (6% of games), 1.g3 (5% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Mikko Niemi answers 1...g6 (66% of games), 1...d6 (13% of games), 1...c5 (10% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d6 (85% of games), 1...f5 (15% of games).
What openings does Mikko Niemi play as White?
As White, Mikko Niemi's most-played openings in our database are: English Opening (40 games, 35.0% win rate); English Opening: Reverse Sicilian (29 games, 31.0% win rate); English Opening: Symmetrical (28 games, 67.9% win rate). The full breakdown of 148 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Mikko Niemi play as Black?
As Black, Mikko Niemi most often plays: Modern Defense (61 games, 37.7% win rate); Pirc Defense (21 games, 23.8% win rate); Rat Defense (12 games, 16.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 134 games.
What is Mikko Niemi's FIDE rating?
Mikko Niemi is currently rated 2,248 in classical chess, 2,182 in rapid and 2,192 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,322 (Nov 2019).
How many games has Mikko Niemi played?
Our database contains 282 games by Mikko Niemi, covering Oct 2004 to Oct 2026. Overall record: 117 wins, 84 draws, 81 losses (41.5% win rate).
How do I prepare against Mikko Niemi?
282 games by Mikko Niemi 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.