Prepare against Ralph Buss
IM · CHE · World #3,300 classical · FIDE ID 1305697
When preparing against Ralph Buss, expect 1.d4 in 64% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (77% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (77%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation as White, 23.5% over 17 games.
Our database contains 328 games by Ralph Buss, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Below you'll find Ralph Buss's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Ralph Buss 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 | 2,326 | 2,433 | Sep 2010 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 328 | 84 | 161 | 83 | 25.6% |
| As White | 162 | 51 | 82 | 29 | 31.5% |
| As Black | 166 | 33 | 79 | 54 | 19.9% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Ralph Buss's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Ralph Buss's side.
First moves as White (162 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 104 | 64.2% | 53.8% |
| Nf3 | 56 | 34.6% | 62.5% |
| e4 | 2 | 1.2% | 50.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 64% of White games, 53.8% score
- …Nf6 (58% of these games) — Buss usually continues c4 (54.5% score)
- …d5 (24% of these games) — Buss usually continues c4 (58.3% score)
- …e6 (6% of these games) — Buss usually continues c4 (50.0% score)
- 1.Nf3 — 35% of White games, 62.5% score
- …Nf6 (45% of these games) — Buss usually continues c4 (62.0% score)
- …d5 (32% of these games) — Buss usually continues d4 (57.1% score)
- …c5 (5% of these games) — Buss usually continues c4 (66.7% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (77 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| c5 | 59 | 76.6% | 49.2% |
| e5 | 6 | 7.8% | 8.3% |
| d5 | 6 | 7.8% | 25.0% |
| e6 | 5 | 6.5% | 70.0% |
| c6 | 1 | 1.3% | 0.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (62 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 48 | 77.4% | 44.8% |
| d5 | 12 | 19.4% | 33.3% |
| e6 | 1 | 1.6% | 50.0% |
| c5 | 1 | 1.6% | 100.0% |
Ralph Buss's chess games
All 328 games by Ralph Buss 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: 84 wins, 161 draws, 83 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D13 | Slav Defense | 20 | 7/11/2 | 35.0% |
| D36 | Indian Defense | 20 | 7/12/1 | 35.0% |
| A10 | English Opening | 18 | 10/4/4 | 55.6% |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 17 | 4/9/4 | 23.5% |
| A58 | Benoni Defense | 8 | 2/6/0 | 25.0% |
| A30 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 7 | 1/5/1 | 14.3% |
| E05 | Catalan | 6 | 0/4/2 | 0.0% |
| E41 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| D76 | Modern Defense | 5 | 1/4/0 | 20.0% |
| A89 | Dutch Defense | 5 | 1/2/2 | 20.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B76 | Sicilian: Dragon | 15 | 6/5/4 | 40.0% |
| E15 | Queen's Indian Defense | 12 | 1/9/2 | 8.3% |
| B92 | Sicilian: Najdorf | 12 | 2/5/5 | 16.7% |
| B53 | Sicilian | 11 | 3/4/4 | 27.3% |
| D05 | Indian Defense | 10 | 1/5/4 | 10.0% |
| B25 | Sicilian: Closed | 7 | 2/5/0 | 28.6% |
| E46 | Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein System | 6 | 1/5/0 | 16.7% |
| A36 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 6 | 1/2/3 | 16.7% |
| E32 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | Milos Pavlovic | 2,533 | 25th EU-Cup | E69 |
| Mar 2010 | Frank Holzke | 2,526 | 11th ch-EU | B97 |
| Jul 2002 | Alexander Cherniaev | 2,509 | ch-SUI Open | B22 |
| Aug 2021 | Alexandra Kosteniuk | 2,485 | chT-SUI | B76 |
| Oct 2009 | Lucas Brunner | 2,475 | chT-SUI | D27 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-SUI | 2022 | 117 | 58.5 | 2,365 |
| Biel MTO Open | 2004 | 18 | 7 | 2,304 |
| 11th ch-EU | 2010 | 11 | 6 | 2,509 |
| Zug Young Masters | 2003 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,368 |
| ch-SUI Open | 2015 | 10 | 5 | 2,275 |
| Olympiad-39 | 2010 | 9 | 4 | 2,286 |
| Poyntner Memorial IM | 2002 | 9 | 2.5 | 2,179 |
| Winterthur U20 | 2002 | 9 | 3.5 | 2,261 |
Interactive opening tree from all 328 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Ralph Buss's chess games?
328 games by Ralph Buss, 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 Ralph Buss has played.
What does Ralph Buss play on the first move as White?
Across 162 games with White in our database, Ralph Buss opens with 1.d4 (64% of games), 1.Nf3 (35% of games), 1.e4 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Ralph Buss answers 1...c5 (77% of games), 1...e5 (8% of games), 1...d5 (8% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (77% of games), 1...d5 (19% of games), 1...e6 (2% of games).
What openings does Ralph Buss play as White?
As White, Ralph Buss's most-played openings in our database are: Slav Defense (20 games, 35.0% win rate); Indian Defense (20 games, 35.0% win rate); English Opening (18 games, 55.6% win rate). The full breakdown of 162 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Ralph Buss play as Black?
As Black, Ralph Buss most often plays: Sicilian: Dragon (15 games, 40.0% win rate); Queen's Indian Defense (12 games, 8.3% win rate); Sicilian: Najdorf (12 games, 16.7% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 166 games.
What is Ralph Buss's FIDE rating?
Ralph Buss is currently rated 2,326 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,433 (Sep 2010).
How many games has Ralph Buss played?
Our database contains 328 games by Ralph Buss, covering Apr 2003 to Aug 2026. Overall record: 84 wins, 161 draws, 83 losses (25.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against Ralph Buss?
328 games by Ralph Buss 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.