Prepare against Niels Van Dam
NLD · World #17,345 classical · FIDE ID 1012762
When preparing against Niels Van Dam, expect 1.e4 in 100% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (71% of games); against 1.d4, 1...f5 (100%).
Our database contains 30 games by Niels Van Dam, covering Oct 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Niels Van Dam's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Niels Van Dam 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 | 2,081 | 2,151 | Sep 2023 |
| Rapid | 2,015 | 2,054 | Aug 2025 |
| Blitz | 2,050 | 2,116 | Jul 2024 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 43.3% |
| As White | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 43.8% |
| As Black | 14 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 42.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Niels Van Dam's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Niels Van Dam's side.
First moves as White (16 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 16 | 100.0% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 100% of White games, 50.0% score
- …c5 (38% of these games) — Dam usually continues Nf3 (33.3% score)
- …e6 (25% of these games) — Dam usually continues d4 (25.0% score)
- …e5 (13% of these games) — Dam usually continues Nf3 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (7 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 5 | 71.4% | 70.0% |
| c6 | 2 | 28.6% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (3 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| f5 | 3 | 100.0% | 50.0% |
Niels Van Dam's chess games
All 30 games by Niels Van Dam in the Chess.ceo database (Oct 2003 - 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: 13 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 3 | 1/1/1 | 33.3% |
| C00 | French Defense | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| B51 | Sicilian: Moscow Variation | 2 | 0/0/2 | 0.0% |
| C03 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| C38 | King's Gambit | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B02 | Alekhine Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B07 | Philidor | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| C45 | Scotch Game | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B46 | Sicilian | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| E87 | Modern Defense | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A96 | Dutch Defense | 4 | 0/4/0 | 0.0% |
| B71 | Sicilian: Dragon | 3 | 2/0/1 | 66.7% |
| A10 | English Opening: Dutch Defense | 2 | 2/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 1 | 0/1/0 | 0.0% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
| B20 | Sicilian: Grand Prix Attack | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| B11 | Caro-Kann: Two Knights Variation | 1 | 1/0/0 | 100.0% |
| A36 | English Opening | 1 | 0/0/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2000 | Maarten Etmans | 2,164 | 23rd Ghent Open | B02 |
| Jul 2002 | Victor Hendriks | 2,134 | 1st Haarlem Nova College Open | E87 |
| Jul 2002 | Wim Versporten | 2,098 | 1st Haarlem Nova College Open | A07 |
| Aug 2024 | Stephan Meyer | 1,940 | Innsbruck Open | A10 |
| Jul 2019 | Ivan Balluch | 1,906 | 30th Pardubice Czech Open B | A21 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Pardubice Czech Open B | 2019 | 9 | 6 | 2,118 |
| Innsbruck Open | 2024 | 6 | 1.5 | 1,958 |
| 1st Haarlem Nova College Open | 2002 | 6 | 4 | 2,078 |
| 3rd Haarlem Nova College Open | 2004 | 5 | 3.5 | 2,553 |
| 23rd Ghent Open | 2000 | 1 | 1 | 2,564 |
| Benidorm Open A 2024 | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 2,072 |
| Maia Chess Open | 2025 | 1 | 0.5 | 2,361 |
| Pardubice Jihlavanka Open | 2007 | 1 | 0 | 1,996 |
Interactive opening tree from all 30 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Niels Van Dam's chess games?
30 games by Niels Van Dam, from Oct 2003 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 Niels Van Dam has played.
What does Niels Van Dam play on the first move as White?
Across 16 games with White in our database, Niels Van Dam opens with 1.e4 (100% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Niels Van Dam answers 1...c5 (71% of games), 1...c6 (29% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...f5 (100% of games).
What openings does Niels Van Dam play as White?
As White, Niels Van Dam's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Closed (3 games, 33.3% win rate); French Defense (2 games, 0.0% win rate); Sicilian: Moscow Variation (2 games, 0.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 16 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Niels Van Dam play as Black?
As Black, Niels Van Dam most often plays: Dutch Defense (4 games, 0.0% win rate); Sicilian: Dragon (3 games, 66.7% win rate); English Opening: Dutch Defense (2 games, 100.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 14 games.
What is Niels Van Dam's FIDE rating?
Niels Van Dam is currently rated 2,081 in classical chess, 2,015 in rapid and 2,050 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,151 (Sep 2023).
How many games has Niels Van Dam played?
Our database contains 30 games by Niels Van Dam, covering Oct 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 13 wins, 7 draws, 10 losses (43.3% win rate).
How do I prepare against Niels Van Dam?
30 games by Niels Van Dam 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.