Prepare against Neil Clarke
United Kingdom · World #72,168 classical · FIDE ID 416746
When preparing against Neil Clarke, expect 1.d4 in 59% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...g6 (63% of games); against 1.d4, 1...e6 (67%).
Our database contains 32 games by Neil Clarke, covering Aug 2016 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Neil Clarke's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Neil Clarke 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 | 1,814 | 1,881 | Jan 2025 |
| Rapid | 1,815 | 1,909 | Oct 2017 |
| Blitz | 1,789 | 1,789 | Jul 2026 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 32 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 25.0% |
| As White | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 23.5% |
| As Black | 15 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 26.7% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Neil Clarke's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Neil Clarke's side.
First moves as White (17 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 10 | 58.8% | 45.0% |
| Nf3 | 4 | 23.5% | 50.0% |
| c4 | 3 | 17.6% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 59% of White games, 45.0% score
- …Nf6 (70% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nf3 (62.5% score)
- …Nc6 (10% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nf3 (0.0% score)
- …d6 (10% of these games) — Clarke usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 24% of White games, 50.0% score
- …d5 (50% of these games) — Clarke usually continues g3 (100.0% score)
- …c5 (25% of these games) — Clarke usually continues g3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (25% of these games) — Clarke usually continues g3 (0.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (8 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| g6 | 5 | 62.5% | 40.0% |
| e6 | 2 | 25.0% | 50.0% |
| c5 | 1 | 12.5% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (3 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 2 | 66.7% | 75.0% |
| g6 | 1 | 33.3% | 100.0% |
Neil Clarke's chess games
All 32 games by Neil Clarke in the Chess.ceo database (Aug 2016 - 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: 8 wins, 11 draws, 13 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A04 | Réti Opening | 3 | 1/1/1 | 33.3% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A45 | London System | 2 | 0/2/0 | 0.0% |
| A22 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A36 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A43 | King's Indian Defense | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| A41 | Mikenas Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| A08 | Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| A43 | Benoni Defense | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| D03 | Torre Attack | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B06 | Modern Defense | 9 | 2/4/3 | 22.2% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| C12 | French: Classical Variation | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| A21 | English Opening | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| A40 | Horwitz Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C04 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2023 | Alex Richardson | 2,154 | Stafford Wood Green Blitz Open | A46 |
| Sep 2020 | Pierre-Adelin Mercier | 1,943 | chT1-BCF 2021 (4NCL) online | B06 |
| May 2019 | Adam Cranston | 1,802 | chT-BCF 4S 1819 (4NCL) | A08 |
| Jan 2023 | Neil Staples | 1,778 | chT4-BCF 2223 (4NCL) | C41 |
| Jul 2023 | Chris Hankey | 1,734 | Stafford Wood Green Blitz Open | A68 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-BCF 4S 1819 (4NCL) | 2019 | 9 | 5 | 1,731 |
| Stafford Wood Green Blitz Open | 2023 | 9 | 3.5 | 1,907 |
| chT1-BCF 2021 (4NCL) online | 2020 | 5 | 2 | 1,936 |
| chT4-BCF 2223 (4NCL) | 2023 | 4 | 2 | 1,890 |
| chT2-BCF 2021 (4NCL) online | 2020 | 2 | 0.5 | 1,961 |
| chT4-BCF 0708 (4NCL) | 2008 | 2 | 0.5 | 1,744 |
| chT2-BCF S3 (4NCL) online | 2021 | 1 | 0 | – |
Interactive opening tree from all 32 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Neil Clarke's chess games?
32 games by Neil Clarke, from Aug 2016 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 Neil Clarke has played.
What does Neil Clarke play on the first move as White?
Across 17 games with White in our database, Neil Clarke opens with 1.d4 (59% of games), 1.Nf3 (24% of games), 1.c4 (18% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Neil Clarke answers 1...g6 (63% of games), 1...e6 (25% of games), 1...c5 (13% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...e6 (67% of games), 1...g6 (33% of games).
What openings does Neil Clarke play as White?
As White, Neil Clarke's most-played openings in our database are: Réti Opening (3 games, 33.3% win rate); Indian Defense (3 games, 66.7% win rate); London System (2 games, 0.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 17 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Neil Clarke play as Black?
As Black, Neil Clarke most often plays: Modern Defense (9 games, 22.2% win rate); French: Advance Variation (1 games, 100.0% win rate); French: Classical Variation (1 games, 0.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 15 games.
What is Neil Clarke's FIDE rating?
Neil Clarke is currently rated 1,814 in classical chess, 1,815 in rapid and 1,789 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 1,881 (Jan 2025).
How many games has Neil Clarke played?
Our database contains 32 games by Neil Clarke, covering Aug 2016 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 8 wins, 11 draws, 13 losses (25.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Neil Clarke?
32 games by Neil Clarke 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.