Prepare against Nicol Zahn
DEU · World #54,879 classical · FIDE ID 4608941
When preparing against Nicol Zahn, expect 1.e4 in 99% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (91% of games); against 1.d4, 1...f5 (76%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian as White, 17.2% over 29 games.
Our database contains 260 games by Nicol Zahn, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Nicol Zahn's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Nicol Zahn 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 | 1,874 | 2,050 | Apr 2003 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 260 | 72 | 79 | 109 | 27.7% |
| As White | 132 | 36 | 53 | 43 | 27.3% |
| As Black | 128 | 36 | 26 | 66 | 28.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Nicol Zahn's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Nicol Zahn's side.
First moves as White (132 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 131 | 99.2% | 46.9% |
| f4 | 1 | 0.8% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 99% of White games, 46.9% score
- …c5 (40% of these games) — Zahn usually continues Nf3 (45.7% score)
- …e5 (18% of these games) — Zahn usually continues Nf3 (52.2% score)
- …e6 (17% of these games) — Zahn usually continues d3 (52.5% score)
- 1.f4 — 1% of White games, 100.0% score
- …d5 (100% of these games) — Zahn usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (76 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 69 | 90.8% | 34.1% |
| e5 | 4 | 5.3% | 75.0% |
| c6 | 1 | 1.3% | 0.0% |
| b6 | 1 | 1.3% | 100.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 1.3% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (34 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| f5 | 26 | 76.5% | 42.3% |
| Nf6 | 6 | 17.6% | 8.3% |
| d5 | 2 | 5.9% | 0.0% |
Nicol Zahn's chess games
All 260 games by Nicol Zahn 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: 72 wins, 79 draws, 109 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A04 | Sicilian | 29 | 5/11/13 | 17.2% |
| C00 | King's Indian Attack | 20 | 7/7/6 | 35.0% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 15 | 6/5/4 | 40.0% |
| B52 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 13 | 6/5/2 | 46.2% |
| B11 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 8 | 0/6/2 | 0.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
| C44 | Alekhine Defense | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| B25 | Sicilian: Closed | 5 | 2/0/3 | 40.0% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 4 | 0/3/1 | 0.0% |
| C47 | Petrov's Defense | 4 | 0/3/1 | 0.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B42 | Sicilian | 45 | 13/8/24 | 28.9% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 34 | 10/10/14 | 29.4% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 11 | 2/1/8 | 18.2% |
| B26 | Sicilian: Closed | 9 | 3/1/5 | 33.3% |
| A86 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | 7 | 3/3/1 | 42.9% |
| D03 | Indian Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Grand Prix Attack | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| C55 | Italian Game | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| A03 | Bird's opening | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1991 | Stefan Reschke | 2,310 | Schoeneck | B52 |
| Mar 1993 | Helge Mueller | 2,295 | chT-GER Federal Cup w | A80 |
| Nov 1992 | Martina Korenova | 2,185 | BL 9293 w | D26 |
| Jan 2009 | Annegret Weng | 2,184 | BL2 Sued 0809 w | B00 |
| Apr 2005 | Claudia Markgraf | 2,153 | chT-Halle w | B26 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-GER Federal Cup w | 2018 | 61 | 29.5 | 1,882 |
| ch-Hessen w | 1994 | 15 | 13 | 2,413 |
| Dortmund w | 1989 | 11 | 2 | 1,921 |
| Schoeneck | 1991 | 11 | 3.5 | 2,150 |
| BL 9192 w | 1992 | 11 | 1.5 | 1,865 |
| BL 9293 w | 1993 | 11 | 7 | 2,197 |
| BL 9394 w | 1994 | 10 | 3.5 | 2,028 |
| ch-GER U16 Girls | 2013 | 9 | 5.5 | 1,880 |
Interactive opening tree from all 260 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Nicol Zahn's chess games?
260 games by Nicol Zahn, 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 Nicol Zahn has played.
What does Nicol Zahn play on the first move as White?
Across 132 games with White in our database, Nicol Zahn opens with 1.e4 (99% of games), 1.f4 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Nicol Zahn answers 1...c5 (91% of games), 1...e5 (5% of games), 1...c6 (1% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...f5 (76% of games), 1...Nf6 (18% of games), 1...d5 (6% of games).
What openings does Nicol Zahn play as White?
As White, Nicol Zahn's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian (29 games, 17.2% win rate); King's Indian Attack (20 games, 35.0% win rate); Scotch Game (15 games, 40.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 132 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Nicol Zahn play as Black?
As Black, Nicol Zahn most often plays: Sicilian (45 games, 28.9% win rate); Dutch Defense (34 games, 29.4% win rate); Sicilian: Alapin (11 games, 18.2% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 128 games.
What is Nicol Zahn's FIDE rating?
Nicol Zahn is currently rated 1,874 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,050 (Apr 2003).
How many games has Nicol Zahn played?
Our database contains 260 games by Nicol Zahn, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 72 wins, 79 draws, 109 losses (27.7% win rate).
How do I prepare against Nicol Zahn?
260 games by Nicol Zahn 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.