Prepare against Soel Kartsev
DEU · World #13,595 classical · FIDE ID 4130561
When preparing against Soel Kartsev, expect 1.d4 in 48% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...d5 (55% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (44%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Sicilian as Black, 38.9% over 18 games.
Our database contains 636 games by Soel Kartsev, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Soel Kartsev's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Soel Kartsev 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 | 2,121 | 2,269 | Jul 2005 |
| Rapid | 2,226 | 2,226 | Jul 2026 |
| Blitz | 2,015 | 2,224 | Aug 2019 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 636 | 283 | 159 | 193 | 44.5% |
| As White | 316 | 156 | 86 | 73 | 49.4% |
| As Black | 320 | 127 | 73 | 120 | 39.7% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Soel Kartsev's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Soel Kartsev's side.
First moves as White (316 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d4 | 151 | 47.8% | 60.3% |
| e4 | 137 | 43.4% | 68.6% |
| c4 | 11 | 3.5% | 36.4% |
| Nf3 | 8 | 2.5% | 56.3% |
| f4 | 5 | 1.6% | 50.0% |
| b3 | 3 | 0.9% | 100.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.d4 — 48% of White games, 60.3% score
- …Nf6 (46% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues Bg5 (62.9% score)
- …d5 (23% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues c4 (61.1% score)
- …e6 (11% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues Nf3 (71.4% score)
- 1.e4 — 43% of White games, 68.6% score
- …c5 (46% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues c3 (63.8% score)
- …e6 (15% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues d4 (76.5% score)
- …e5 (12% of these games) — Kartsev usually continues Nf3 (73.3% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (141 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 78 | 55.3% | 59.6% |
| c5 | 42 | 29.8% | 46.4% |
| e5 | 10 | 7.1% | 30.0% |
| c6 | 7 | 5.0% | 50.0% |
| g6 | 3 | 2.1% | 66.7% |
| d6 | 1 | 0.7% | 50.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (116 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nf6 | 51 | 44.0% | 44.1% |
| f5 | 34 | 29.3% | 55.9% |
| d5 | 22 | 19.0% | 36.4% |
| c5 | 9 | 7.8% | 66.7% |
Soel Kartsev's chess games
All 636 games by Soel Kartsev 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: 283 wins, 159 draws, 193 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A45 | Trompowsky Attack | 45 | 18/17/9 | 40.0% |
| B22 | Sicilian: Alapin | 29 | 15/7/7 | 51.7% |
| C02 | French: Advance Variation | 17 | 13/1/3 | 76.5% |
| B25 | Sicilian: Closed | 14 | 6/4/4 | 42.9% |
| D15 | Slav Defense | 13 | 4/6/3 | 30.8% |
| B50 | Sicilian | 12 | 3/7/2 | 25.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 11 | 6/1/4 | 54.5% |
| A81 | Dutch Defense | 11 | 4/1/6 | 36.4% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 10 | 6/2/2 | 60.0% |
| D36 | Queen's Gambit Declined | 9 | 6/2/1 | 66.7% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B01 | Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation | 76 | 35/20/21 | 46.1% |
| A87 | Dutch Defense | 37 | 15/11/11 | 40.5% |
| B83 | Sicilian | 18 | 7/3/8 | 38.9% |
| A25 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 18 | 9/1/8 | 50.0% |
| A57 | Benoni Defense | 15 | 6/4/5 | 40.0% |
| A46 | Indian Defense | 12 | 4/2/6 | 33.3% |
| A26 | Modern Defense | 10 | 6/3/1 | 60.0% |
| D46 | Slav Defense | 9 | 2/1/6 | 22.2% |
| A05 | Réti Opening | 6 | 3/0/3 | 50.0% |
| E04 | Catalan | 6 | 2/0/4 | 33.3% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2011 | Dieter Morawietz | 2,432 | 15th chI-Bayern Bank Hofmann | B22 |
| Jul 2018 | Tobias Jugelt | 2,417 | 46th Dortmund Sparkassen Open A | B03 |
| Sep 2003 | Andrey Orlov | 2,391 | NRW Class2 0304 | B07 |
| Jan 2005 | Alexander Zajogin | 2,391 | NRW Class1 0405 | A80 |
| Nov 2010 | Michael Buscher | 2,388 | chT-BEL 1011 | A25 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dortmund Sparkassen Open A | 2015 | 53 | 32 | 2,160 |
| Dortmund Open A | 2007 | 45 | 27 | 2,216 |
| ch-Ruhrgebiet | 2007 | 28 | 15.5 | 2,176 |
| ch-Dortmund | 2005 | 18 | 12.5 | 2,105 |
| Unna Open | 2010 | 12 | 9.5 | 2,263 |
| NRW Class1 1718 | 2018 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,282 |
| NRW Class1 1112 | 2012 | 9 | 3.5 | 2,029 |
| Dortmund Helmut Kohl | 2014 | 9 | 5.5 | 2,292 |
Interactive opening tree from all 636 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Soel Kartsev's chess games?
636 games by Soel Kartsev, 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 Soel Kartsev has played.
What does Soel Kartsev play on the first move as White?
Across 316 games with White in our database, Soel Kartsev opens with 1.d4 (48% of games), 1.e4 (43% of games), 1.c4 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Soel Kartsev answers 1...d5 (55% of games), 1...c5 (30% of games), 1...e5 (7% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (44% of games), 1...f5 (29% of games), 1...d5 (19% of games).
What openings does Soel Kartsev play as White?
As White, Soel Kartsev's most-played openings in our database are: Trompowsky Attack (45 games, 40.0% win rate); Sicilian: Alapin (29 games, 51.7% win rate); French: Advance Variation (17 games, 76.5% win rate). The full breakdown of 316 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Soel Kartsev play as Black?
As Black, Soel Kartsev most often plays: Scandinavian Defense: Modern Variation (76 games, 46.1% win rate); Dutch Defense (37 games, 40.5% win rate); Sicilian (18 games, 38.9% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 320 games.
What is Soel Kartsev's FIDE rating?
Soel Kartsev is currently rated 2,121 in classical chess, 2,226 in rapid and 2,015 in blitz. Peak classical rating: 2,269 (Jul 2005).
How many games has Soel Kartsev played?
Our database contains 636 games by Soel Kartsev, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 283 wins, 159 draws, 193 losses (44.5% win rate).
How do I prepare against Soel Kartsev?
636 games by Soel Kartsev 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.