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Prepare against Zsolt Ballai

FM · Hungary · World #9,765 classical · FIDE ID 707309

When preparing against Zsolt Ballai, expect 1.d4 in 99% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...c5 (100% of games); against 1.d4, 1...Nf6 (99%). Lowest win rate among frequent openings: Benoni Defense as White, 13.6% over 22 games.

Our database contains 340 games by Zsolt Ballai, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Zsolt Ballai's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Zsolt Ballai 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 controlCurrentPeakPeak date
Classical2,1732,322Apr 2003
Rapid2,2192,229Oct 2023

Performance record

SplitGamesWinsDrawsLossesWin rate
Overall3401061765831.2%
As White16652942031.3%
As Black17454823831.0%

Move-by-move preparation stats

Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Zsolt Ballai's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Zsolt Ballai's side.

First moves as White (166 games)

MoveGamesSharePlayer score
d416498.8%59.8%
Nf321.2%50.0%

Main lines as White

As Black against 1.e4 (76 games)

MoveGamesSharePlayer score
c576100.0%55.9%

As Black against 1.d4 (68 games)

MoveGamesSharePlayer score
Nf66798.5%53.0%
g611.5%100.0%

Zsolt Ballai's chess games

All 340 games by Zsolt Ballai 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: 106 wins, 176 draws, 58 losses.

Openings as White

ECOOpeningGamesW/D/LWin rate
D36Indian Defense3310/16/730.3%
A57Benoni Defense223/15/413.6%
E20Nimzo-Indian Defense188/9/144.4%
E88King's Indian: Sämisch173/13/117.6%
D31Semi-Slav Defense105/5/050.0%
D15Slav Defense82/3/325.0%
D24Queen's Gambit Accepted71/5/114.3%
A40Queen's Pawn Game72/3/228.6%
D85Grünfeld Defense63/3/050.0%
D32Queen's Gambit Declined63/3/050.0%

Openings as Black

ECOOpeningGamesW/D/LWin rate
B92Sicilian: Najdorf4013/19/832.5%
E94King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation177/5/541.2%
B50Sicilian142/8/414.3%
E63Indian Defense124/7/133.3%
E73King's Indian Defense: Averbakh System110/7/40.0%
E81King's Indian: Sämisch113/5/327.3%
E66King's Indian Defense94/2/344.4%
B23Sicilian: Closed82/4/225.0%
B07Sicilian: Alapin73/4/042.9%
E63Réti Opening: Symmetrical Defense74/3/057.1%

Notable wins

DateOpponentEloEventECO
Nov 2000Janos Szabolcsi2,411chT-HUN 0001A87
Apr 2001Gyula Meszaros2,386chT-HUN 0001D01
Feb 2016Viktor Varadi2,364chT2-HUN Barcza 1516E20
Dec 2009Balazs Bakos2,363chT2-HUN Maroczy 0910D85
Jan 1996Oleg Boricsev2,345chT2-HUNB07

Top events

EventYearGamesScoreTPR
chT-HUN19932612.52,235
Bekescsaba1996217.52,223
chT2-HUN Barcza 0607200711102,413
chT2-HUN Barcza 101120111192,383
chT2-HUN Maroczy 13142014115.52,257
chT2-HUN Barcza 181920191182,236
chT-HUN 01022002114.52,251
chT2-HUN Maroczy 091020101152,218
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Frequently asked questions

Where can I find Zsolt Ballai's chess games?

340 games by Zsolt Ballai, 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 Zsolt Ballai has played.

What does Zsolt Ballai play on the first move as White?

Across 166 games with White in our database, Zsolt Ballai opens with 1.d4 (99% of games), 1.Nf3 (1% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Zsolt Ballai answers 1...c5 (100% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...Nf6 (99% of games), 1...g6 (1% of games).

What openings does Zsolt Ballai play as White?

As White, Zsolt Ballai's most-played openings in our database are: Indian Defense (33 games, 30.3% win rate); Benoni Defense (22 games, 13.6% win rate); Nimzo-Indian Defense (18 games, 44.4% win rate). The full breakdown of 166 games with White is in the table above.

What openings does Zsolt Ballai play as Black?

As Black, Zsolt Ballai most often plays: Sicilian: Najdorf (40 games, 32.5% win rate); King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation (17 games, 41.2% win rate); Sicilian (14 games, 14.3% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 174 games.

What is Zsolt Ballai's FIDE rating?

Zsolt Ballai is currently rated 2,173 in classical chess, 2,219 in rapid. Peak classical rating: 2,322 (Apr 2003).

How many games has Zsolt Ballai played?

Our database contains 340 games by Zsolt Ballai, covering Apr 2003 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 106 wins, 176 draws, 58 losses (31.2% win rate).

How do I prepare against Zsolt Ballai?

340 games by Zsolt Ballai 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.

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