Prepare against Paul Cumbers
United Kingdom · World #13,483 classical · FIDE ID 411299
When preparing against Paul Cumbers, expect 1.e4 in 50% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (63%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Benoni Defense as Black, 26.7% over 15 games.
Our database contains 200 games by Paul Cumbers, covering Jul 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Paul Cumbers's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Paul Cumbers 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 | 2,122 | 2,218 | Jul 2010 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 200 | 90 | 48 | 62 | 45.0% |
| As White | 100 | 52 | 21 | 27 | 52.0% |
| As Black | 100 | 38 | 27 | 35 | 38.0% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Paul Cumbers's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Paul Cumbers's side.
First moves as White (100 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 50 | 50.0% | 68.0% |
| d4 | 46 | 46.0% | 55.4% |
| c4 | 3 | 3.0% | 66.7% |
| Nf3 | 1 | 1.0% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 50% of White games, 68.0% score
- …e6 (30% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues d4 (69.2% score)
- …c5 (22% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues Nc3 (70.0% score)
- …e5 (20% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues f4 (50.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 46% of White games, 55.4% score
- …Nf6 (43% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues c4 (52.5% score)
- …d5 (30% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues c4 (57.1% score)
- …e6 (9% of these games) — Cumbers usually continues c4 (66.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (48 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 48 | 100.0% | 56.3% |
As Black against 1.d4 (30 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 19 | 63.3% | 44.7% |
| e6 | 7 | 23.3% | 42.9% |
| f5 | 3 | 10.0% | 33.3% |
| c5 | 1 | 3.3% | 0.0% |
Paul Cumbers's chess games
All 200 games by Paul Cumbers in the Chess.ceo database (Jul 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: 90 wins, 48 draws, 62 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 14 | 8/4/2 | 57.1% |
| D45 | Slav Defense | 8 | 4/1/3 | 50.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 7 | 5/1/1 | 71.4% |
| E94 | King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation | 6 | 3/1/2 | 50.0% |
| E20 | Nimzo-Indian: Kmoch Variation | 6 | 1/3/2 | 16.7% |
| B25 | Sicilian: Closed | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| C28 | King's Gambit | 4 | 1/2/1 | 25.0% |
| D36 | Indian Defense | 4 | 1/1/2 | 25.0% |
| A83 | Dutch Defense | 4 | 2/0/2 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C12 | French: Classical Variation | 16 | 8/7/1 | 50.0% |
| A65 | Benoni Defense | 15 | 4/2/9 | 26.7% |
| C03 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 13 | 4/4/5 | 30.8% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 10 | 3/3/4 | 30.0% |
| A34 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 6 | 1/0/5 | 16.7% |
| A47 | Indian Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| C11 | French Defense | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| A26 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 3 | 0/2/1 | 0.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2009 | James Cobb | 2,432 | 96th ch-GBR | A46 |
| Aug 2009 | Peter J Sowray | 2,335 | 96th ch-GBR | E33 |
| May 2011 | Peter T Roberson | 2,291 | BCF-chT1d 1011 (4NCL) Demotion pool | A01 |
| Apr 2011 | Ben D M Savage | 2,289 | BCF-chT1d 1011 (4NCL) Demotion pool | E20 |
| Dec 2008 | David A Shaw | 2,250 | chT-BCF2a 0809 (4NCL) | A90 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97th ch-GBR | 2010 | 11 | 6 | 2,237 |
| 96th ch-GBR | 2009 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,261 |
| 92nd ch-BCF | 2005 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,171 |
| chT2-BCF 0405 (4NCL) | 2005 | 10 | 7 | 2,313 |
| chT3-BCF 0203 (4NCL) | 2003 | 9 | 6 | 2,207 |
| chT2-BCF 0506 (4NCL) | 2006 | 8 | 6.5 | 2,340 |
| chT2-BCF 0607 (4NCL) | 2007 | 7 | 1.5 | 1,845 |
| chT-BCF2a 0809 (4NCL) | 2009 | 7 | 5.5 | 2,366 |
Interactive opening tree from all 200 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Paul Cumbers's chess games?
200 games by Paul Cumbers, from Jul 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 Paul Cumbers has played.
What does Paul Cumbers play on the first move as White?
Across 100 games with White in our database, Paul Cumbers opens with 1.e4 (50% of games), 1.d4 (46% of games), 1.c4 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Paul Cumbers answers 1...e6 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (63% of games), 1...e6 (23% of games), 1...f5 (10% of games).
What openings does Paul Cumbers play as White?
As White, Paul Cumbers's most-played openings in our database are: French: Advance Variation (14 games, 57.1% win rate); Slav Defense (8 games, 50.0% win rate); Caro-Kann: Advance Variation (7 games, 71.4% win rate). The full breakdown of 100 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Paul Cumbers play as Black?
As Black, Paul Cumbers most often plays: French: Classical Variation (16 games, 50.0% win rate); Benoni Defense (15 games, 26.7% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (13 games, 30.8% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 100 games.
What is Paul Cumbers's FIDE rating?
Paul Cumbers is currently rated 2,122 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,218 (Jul 2010).
How many games has Paul Cumbers played?
Our database contains 200 games by Paul Cumbers, covering Jul 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 90 wins, 48 draws, 62 losses (45.0% win rate).
How do I prepare against Paul Cumbers?
200 games by Paul Cumbers 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.