Xue Zhao vs Yifan Hou
GM Xue Zhao (2433) · GM Yifan Hou (2596)
Xue Zhao and Yifan Hou have played 38 recorded games against each other, the first in Oct 2005 and the most recent in Oct 2025. Zhao leads 4 wins to 17 - trailing overall, with 17 draws (55% of the games were decisive). Their most common battleground is the Ruy Lopez: Closed (2 games). The average game between them lasted 47 moves.
Results by color
| Split | Games | Zhao | Draws | Hou |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhao with White | 25 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
| Hou with White | 13 | 1 | 6 | 6 |
Results by time format
| Format | Games | Zhao | Draws | Hou |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 26 | 4 | 12 | 10 |
| Blitz | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Rapid | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Openings in their games
| ECO | Opening | Games | Zhao | Draws | Hou |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C95 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| C67 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| C92 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| A31 | English Opening | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D38 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| E37 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| A34 | English Opening: Symmetrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A32 | Benoni Defense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Most recent 30 of 38 games
| Date | White | Black | Result | Opening | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | Trompowsky Attack | CHN League Division A Pt2 |
| Dec 2020 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | Queen's Indian Defense | World Chess Summit w |
| Dec 2014 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Basque w |
| Dec 2014 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | English Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Basque w |
| Dec 2014 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1/2-1/2 | Alekhine Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz w |
| Dec 2014 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | English Opening | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz w |
| Dec 2014 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Rapid w |
| Aug 2014 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | Sharjah FIDE GP w |
| Jun 2014 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Lopota FIDE GP w |
| Apr 2014 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | Khanty-Mansiysk FIDE GP w |
| Dec 2013 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo | Beijing Sportaccord Basque w |
| Dec 2013 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1-0 | English Opening | Beijing Sportaccord Basque w |
| Dec 2013 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz w |
| Dec 2013 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz w |
| Dec 2013 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Beijing Sportaccord Rapid w |
| Jul 2013 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 4th Incheon Open w |
| Dec 2012 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | English Opening: Neo-Catalan | Beijing Sportaccord Blindfold w |
| Dec 2012 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | English Opening: Symmetrical | Beijing Sportaccord Blitz w |
| Jul 2012 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense | Jermuk FIDE GP w |
| Sep 2011 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | Catalan | Shenzhen FIDE GP w |
| Jul 2011 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1/2-1/2 | Italian Game: Classical Variation | 1st Hangzhou w |
| Apr 2011 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | Nimzo-Indian: Classical Variation | 1st CHN Masters w |
| Apr 2011 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | chT-CHN |
| Nov 2010 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | 16th Asia Rapid w |
| Nov 2010 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1/2-1/2 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 6th chT-CHN |
| Jul 2010 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 1/2-1/2 | Benoni Defense | Ulaanbaatar FIDE GP w |
| Apr 2010 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Nalchik FIDE GP w |
| Sep 2009 | Xue Zhao | Yifan Hou | 0-1 | Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defense | Maotai Prince Cup Queens |
| Mar 2009 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 0-1 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | Istanbul FIDE GP w |
| Oct 2008 | Yifan Hou | Xue Zhao | 1-0 | Ruy Lopez: Closed | 1st WMSG Blitz KO w |
Interactive board, all 38 games, opening explorer and engine analysis.
Browse the gamesFrequently asked questions
What is the head-to-head score between Xue Zhao and Yifan Hou?
In 38 recorded games, Xue Zhao has 4 wins, Yifan Hou has 17 wins, and they have drawn 17 times.
How many times have Xue Zhao and Yifan Hou played each other?
Our database records 38 games between them, from Oct 2005 to Oct 2025.
What openings do Xue Zhao and Yifan Hou play against each other?
The most common opening in their games is the Ruy Lopez: Closed (2 games), followed by the Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defense (2). The full opening breakdown and every game are on this page.