Prepare against Pal Royset
CM · Norway · World #14,531 classical · FIDE ID 1501330
Our database contains 1,116 games by Pal Royset, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Pal Royset's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Pal Royset 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 | 2,110 | 2,291 | Nov 2009 |
| Rapid | 2,101 | 2,210 | Nov 2015 |
| Blitz | 1,977 | 2,190 | Jul 2014 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 1,116 | 511 | 240 | 365 | 45.8% |
| As White | 557 | 269 | 130 | 158 | 48.3% |
| As Black | 559 | 242 | 110 | 207 | 43.3% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Pal Royset's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Pal Royset's side.
First moves as White (557 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 496 | 89.0% | 59.4% |
| d4 | 41 | 7.4% | 59.8% |
| Nf3 | 12 | 2.2% | 79.2% |
| c4 | 8 | 1.4% | 68.8% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 89% of White games, 59.4% score
- …c5 (36% of these games) — Royset usually continues c3 (58.1% score)
- …e5 (19% of these games) — Royset usually continues Nf3 (61.1% score)
- …e6 (18% of these games) — Royset usually continues d4 (62.8% score)
- 1.d4 — 7% of White games, 59.8% score
- …Nf6 (54% of these games) — Royset usually continues Bg5 (53.3% score)
- …d5 (27% of these games) — Royset usually continues Nf3 (50.0% score)
- …e6 (7% of these games) — Royset usually continues e4 (75.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (236 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 128 | 54.2% | 57.8% |
| e5 | 78 | 33.1% | 48.7% |
| Nc6 | 22 | 9.3% | 61.4% |
| g6 | 3 | 1.3% | 66.7% |
| Nf6 | 2 | 0.8% | 50.0% |
| d6 | 1 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (203 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 147 | 72.4% | 56.1% |
| d5 | 43 | 21.2% | 52.3% |
| c5 | 7 | 3.4% | 71.4% |
| d6 | 4 | 2.0% | 37.5% |
| Nc6 | 1 | 0.5% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 1 | 0.5% | 100.0% |
Pal Royset's chess games
All 1,116 games by Pal Royset in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 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: 511 wins, 240 draws, 365 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 105 | 46/30/29 | 43.8% |
| B13 | Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation | 41 | 20/5/16 | 48.8% |
| C19 | French: Winawer Variation | 33 | 16/8/9 | 48.5% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 29 | 9/9/11 | 31.0% |
| C11 | French: Classical Variation | 25 | 11/7/7 | 44.0% |
| B04 | Alekhine Defense | 23 | 8/7/8 | 34.8% |
| C24 | Bishop's Opening | 18 | 10/2/6 | 55.6% |
| B07 | Pirc Defense | 17 | 10/3/4 | 58.8% |
| C78 | Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense | 15 | 6/3/6 | 40.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian | 15 | 9/3/3 | 60.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D37 | Indian Defense | 62 | 26/17/19 | 41.9% |
| B29 | Sicilian | 39 | 18/5/16 | 46.2% |
| E04 | Catalan | 25 | 9/7/9 | 36.0% |
| A17 | English Opening | 23 | 8/3/12 | 34.8% |
| B23 | Sicilian: Closed | 23 | 16/3/4 | 69.6% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 22 | 11/0/11 | 50.0% |
| C92 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 20 | 9/4/7 | 45.0% |
| A44 | Benoni Defense | 17 | 7/4/6 | 41.2% |
| E11 | Bogo-Indian Defense | 16 | 8/6/2 | 50.0% |
| B90 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 15 | 9/3/3 | 60.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1996 | Ivan Sokolov | 2,665 | Tromsoe Simul | C91 |
| Jun 1996 | Simen Agdestein | 2,585 | Tromsoe Simul | C92 |
| Jul 2010 | Denis Rombaldoni | 2,493 | 2nd Rethymno Open | B12 |
| Apr 2015 | Matthias Dann | 2,475 | Fagernes Norsk Open A | B23 |
| Jan 2002 | Rune Djurhuus | 2,469 | Troll Masters | B06 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-NOR | 2007 | 51 | 26.5 | 2,193 |
| Tromsoe Bymesterskap | 2000 | 46 | 26 | 2,248 |
| Arctic Chess Challenge | 2010 | 36 | 21.5 | 2,210 |
| Kalotturneringen | 2000 | 30 | 20 | 2,447 |
| ch-Tromsoe CC | 2013 | 26 | 20.5 | 1,852 |
| ch-NOR | 2015 | 26 | 8 | 2,163 |
| Vadsosjakken A | 2009 | 25 | 16 | 2,150 |
| ch-Barents Region A | 2004 | 24 | 14.5 | 2,241 |
Frequent opponents
Head-to-head records: Gunnar B. Hanssen (19 games) · Frode Bull Jaeger (15 games) · Frank Remman (14 games)
Interactive opening tree from all 1,116 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Pal Royset's chess games?
1,116 games by Pal Royset, from Apr 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 Pal Royset has played.
What does Pal Royset play on the first move as White?
Across 557 games with White in our database, Pal Royset opens with 1.e4 (89% of games), 1.d4 (7% of games), 1.Nf3 (2% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Pal Royset answers 1...c5 (54% of games), 1...e5 (33% of games), 1...Nc6 (9% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (72% of games), 1...d5 (21% of games), 1...c5 (3% of games).
What openings does Pal Royset play as White?
As White, Pal Royset's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Alapin (105 games, 43.8% win rate); Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation (41 games, 48.8% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (33 games, 48.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 557 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Pal Royset play as Black?
As Black, Pal Royset most often plays: Indian Defense (62 games, 41.9% win rate); Sicilian (39 games, 46.2% win rate); Catalan (25 games, 36.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 559 games.
What is Pal Royset's FIDE rating?
Pal Royset is currently rated 2,110 in classical chess, 2,101 in rapid and 1,977 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,291 (Nov 2009).
How many games has Pal Royset played?
Our database contains 1,116 games by Pal Royset, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 511 wins, 240 draws, 365 losses (45.8% win rate).
How do I prepare against Pal Royset?
1,116 games by Pal Royset 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.