Prepare against Neil McDonald
GM · United Kingdom · World #1,908 classical · FIDE ID 400629
When preparing against Neil McDonald, expect 1.e4 in 78% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (75% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (35%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: French Defense as Black, 18.2% over 22 games.
Our database contains 1,108 games by Neil McDonald, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Below you'll find Neil McDonald's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Neil McDonald 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 | 2,388 | 2,460 | May 2011 |
| Rapid | 2,406 | 2,431 | Dec 2014 |
| Blitz | 2,374 | 2,397 | Dec 2017 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1,108 | 450 | 378 | 280 | 40.6% |
| As White | 561 | 258 | 175 | 128 | 46.0% |
| As Black | 547 | 192 | 203 | 152 | 35.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Neil McDonald's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Neil McDonald's side.
First moves as White (561 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 440 | 78.4% | 64.0% |
| Nf3 | 77 | 13.7% | 50.6% |
| d4 | 20 | 3.6% | 50.0% |
| c4 | 17 | 3.0% | 67.6% |
| a3 | 2 | 0.4% | 100.0% |
| Nc3 | 2 | 0.4% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 78% of White games, 64.0% score
- …c5 (43% of these games) — McDonald usually continues Nf3 (61.7% score)
- …e5 (22% of these games) — McDonald usually continues Nf3 (57.3% score)
- …e6 (13% of these games) — McDonald usually continues d4 (68.4% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 14% of White games, 50.6% score
- …Nf6 (53% of these games) — McDonald usually continues g3 (51.5% score)
- …d5 (19% of these games) — McDonald usually continues g3 (57.7% score)
- …c5 (9% of these games) — McDonald usually continues g3 (66.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (236 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 178 | 75.4% | 55.9% |
| c5 | 35 | 14.8% | 64.3% |
| d5 | 11 | 4.7% | 81.8% |
| g6 | 5 | 2.1% | 40.0% |
| d6 | 4 | 1.7% | 62.5% |
| e5 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (206 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 73 | 35.4% | 48.6% |
| Nf6 | 69 | 33.5% | 50.7% |
| f5 | 52 | 25.2% | 55.8% |
| e6 | 9 | 4.4% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 3 | 1.5% | 16.7% |
Neil McDonald's chess games
All 1,108 games by Neil McDonald in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2003 - Sep 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: 450 wins, 378 draws, 280 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B42 | Sicilian | 71 | 26/27/18 | 36.6% |
| B96 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 37 | 22/8/7 | 59.5% |
| A11 | Réti Opening | 36 | 13/14/9 | 36.1% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 28 | 12/9/7 | 42.9% |
| C15 | French: Winawer Variation | 22 | 14/3/5 | 63.6% |
| C92 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 20 | 5/10/5 | 25.0% |
| C06 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 18 | 10/6/2 | 55.6% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 16 | 10/3/3 | 62.5% |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 14 | 6/6/2 | 42.9% |
| B33 | Sicilian: Sveshnikov | 14 | 7/3/4 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 62 | 23/21/18 | 37.1% |
| C06 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 58 | 23/20/15 | 39.7% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 45 | 14/17/14 | 31.1% |
| E69 | Indian Defense | 33 | 7/16/10 | 21.2% |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 29 | 10/13/6 | 34.5% |
| D56 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense | 24 | 5/13/6 | 20.8% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 22 | 12/7/3 | 54.5% |
| C10 | French Defense | 22 | 4/16/2 | 18.2% |
| B32 | Sicilian | 22 | 11/10/1 | 50.0% |
| A26 | English Opening | 18 | 6/4/8 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1996 | Michael Adams | 2,660 | chT-BCF 9596 (4NCL) 3rd | C68 |
| Jan 1992 | Valery Salov | 2,655 | Oviedo Rapid 45 | A48 |
| Dec 2013 | Aleksander Delchev | 2,648 | 5th London Classic Open | B06 |
| Jan 1993 | Ian Rogers | 2,595 | 17th Lloyds Bank Open | C10 |
| Jan 1992 | Viktor Bologan | 2,585 | Oviedo Rapid 45 | B66 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-BCF | 2003 | 52 | 28.5 | 2,378 |
| Budapest FS05 GM | 2003 | 35 | 15 | 2,374 |
| Zug | 1991 | 33 | 14 | 2,279 |
| Jack Speigel Memorial | 2009 | 28 | 12 | 2,418 |
| London Classic Open | 2017 | 27 | 19 | 2,494 |
| Budapest FS07 GM | 2004 | 23 | 13 | 2,477 |
| Elekes Memorial | 1996 | 22 | 16 | 2,612 |
| Oakham YM | 1988 | 18 | 10 | 2,407 |
Interactive opening tree from all 1,108 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Neil McDonald's chess games?
1,108 games by Neil McDonald, from Apr 2003 to Sep 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 McDonald has played.
What does Neil McDonald play on the first move as White?
Across 561 games with White in our database, Neil McDonald opens with 1.e4 (78% of games), 1.Nf3 (14% of games), 1.d4 (4% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Neil McDonald answers 1...e6 (75% of games), 1...c5 (15% of games), 1...d5 (5% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (35% of games), 1...Nf6 (33% of games), 1...f5 (25% of games).
What openings does Neil McDonald play as White?
As White, Neil McDonald's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (71 games, 36.6% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (37 games, 59.5% win rate); Réti Opening (36 games, 36.1% win rate). The full breakdown of 561 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Neil McDonald play as Black?
As Black, Neil McDonald most often plays: Dutch Defense (62 games, 37.1% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (58 games, 39.7% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (45 games, 31.1% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 547 games.
What is Neil McDonald's FIDE rating?
Neil McDonald is currently rated 2,388 in classical chess, 2,406 in rapid and 2,374 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,460 (May 2011).
How many games has Neil McDonald played?
Our database contains 1,108 games by Neil McDonald, covering Apr 2003 to Sep 2026. Overall record: 450 wins, 378 draws, 280 losses (40.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against Neil McDonald?
1,108 games by Neil McDonald 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.