Prepare against Risto Lehtivaara
FM · Finland · World #13,725 classical · FIDE ID 500275
When preparing against Risto Lehtivaara, expect 1.e4 in 99% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e6 (98% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (84%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Queen's Gambit Declined as Black, 18.2% over 33 games.
Our database contains 376 games by Risto Lehtivaara, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Risto Lehtivaara's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Risto Lehtivaara 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 | 2,119 | 2,218 | Oct 2005 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 376 | 134 | 110 | 132 | 35.6% |
| As White | 199 | 82 | 56 | 61 | 41.2% |
| As Black | 177 | 52 | 54 | 71 | 29.4% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Risto Lehtivaara's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Risto Lehtivaara's side.
First moves as White (199 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 197 | 99.0% | 55.1% |
| d4 | 2 | 1.0% | 75.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 99% of White games, 55.1% score
- …c5 (40% of these games) — Lehtivaara usually continues c3 (54.4% score)
- …e5 (21% of these games) — Lehtivaara usually continues d4 (60.0% score)
- …e6 (9% of these games) — Lehtivaara usually continues d4 (50.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 1% of White games, 75.0% score
- …Nf6 (100% of these games) — Lehtivaara usually continues e3 (50.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (83 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e6 | 81 | 97.6% | 42.6% |
| e5 | 1 | 1.2% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (51 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 43 | 84.3% | 44.2% |
| e6 | 8 | 15.7% | 43.8% |
Risto Lehtivaara's chess games
All 376 games by Risto Lehtivaara 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: 134 wins, 110 draws, 132 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 79 | 32/22/25 | 40.5% |
| C44 | Danish Gambit | 18 | 6/8/4 | 33.3% |
| B09 | Pirc Defense | 10 | 5/0/5 | 50.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Advance Variation | 10 | 6/3/1 | 60.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 9 | 5/3/1 | 55.6% |
| C44 | Scotch Game | 8 | 4/2/2 | 50.0% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 7 | 4/1/2 | 57.1% |
| B01 | Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian Variation | 7 | 4/1/2 | 57.1% |
| C01 | French: Exchange Variation | 6 | 2/3/1 | 33.3% |
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Main Line | 6 | 2/2/2 | 33.3% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A90 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 33 | 6/10/17 | 18.2% |
| C04 | French: Tarrasch Variation | 28 | 8/9/11 | 28.6% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 17 | 6/4/7 | 35.3% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 16 | 3/5/8 | 18.8% |
| A90 | Queen's Pawn Game | 12 | 8/1/3 | 66.7% |
| A07 | Réti Opening | 10 | 1/4/5 | 10.0% |
| A08 | King's Indian Attack | 9 | 3/3/3 | 33.3% |
| C00 | French Defense | 9 | 3/2/4 | 33.3% |
| A10 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | 6 | 1/1/4 | 16.7% |
| A00 | Hungarian Opening | 5 | 2/1/2 | 40.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1989 | Julian M Hodgson | 2,535 | 13th Lloyds Bank Open | B07 |
| Nov 2003 | Olav Sepp | 2,425 | chT-FIN 0304 | C00 |
| Jan 1991 | Jan Johansson | 2,415 | Helsinki Open | B06 |
| Jan 2002 | Vladimir Zavoronkov | 2,383 | chT1B-FIN 0102 | B22 |
| Jan 1991 | Eero J. Raaste | 2,370 | Helsinki Open | A45 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| chT-FIN | 1995 | 66 | 44.5 | 2,401 |
| ch-FIN | 1991 | 40 | 17.5 | 2,277 |
| Espoo Open | 1999 | 17 | 8 | 2,327 |
| Guarapuava Open | 1992 | 11 | 5.5 | 2,382 |
| chT-FIN 9596 | 1996 | 11 | 6 | 2,303 |
| Helsinki Open | 1991 | 10 | 5 | 2,324 |
| chT-FIN 0304 | 2004 | 9 | 3 | 2,291 |
| ch-BRA sf | 1993 | 9 | 6 | 2,455 |
Interactive opening tree from all 376 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Risto Lehtivaara's chess games?
376 games by Risto Lehtivaara, 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 Risto Lehtivaara has played.
What does Risto Lehtivaara play on the first move as White?
Across 199 games with White in our database, Risto Lehtivaara opens with 1.e4 (99% of games), 1.d4 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Risto Lehtivaara answers 1...e6 (98% of games), 1...e5 (1% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (84% of games), 1...e6 (16% of games).
What openings does Risto Lehtivaara play as White?
As White, Risto Lehtivaara's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Alapin (79 games, 40.5% win rate); Danish Gambit (18 games, 33.3% win rate); Pirc Defense (10 games, 50.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 199 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Risto Lehtivaara play as Black?
As Black, Risto Lehtivaara most often plays: Queen's Gambit Declined (33 games, 18.2% win rate); French: Tarrasch Variation (28 games, 28.6% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (17 games, 35.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 177 games.
What is Risto Lehtivaara's FIDE rating?
Risto Lehtivaara is currently rated 2,119 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,218 (Oct 2005).
How many games has Risto Lehtivaara played?
Our database contains 376 games by Risto Lehtivaara, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 134 wins, 110 draws, 132 losses (35.6% win rate).
How do I prepare against Risto Lehtivaara?
376 games by Risto Lehtivaara 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.