chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

Stuart Rachels
S Rachels 
Courtesy of amesrachels.org 

Number of games in database: 138
Years covered: 1983 to 2025
Last FIDE rating: 2451
Highest rating achieved in database: 2485
Overall record: +41 -37 =59 (51.5%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games in the database. 1 exhibition game, blitz/rapid, odds game, etc. is excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Sicilian (23) 
    B90 B32 B63 B22 B62
 French Defense (13) 
    C05 C08 C07 C01 C04
 French Tarrasch (12) 
    C05 C09 C04 C08 C07
 Ruy Lopez (6) 
    C78 C84 C71 C95 C67
 Sicilian Richter-Rauser (6) 
    B63 B62 B64 B68
 Sicilian Najdorf (6) 
    B90
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (35) 
    B57 B65 B58 B52 B72
 Modern Benoni (9) 
    A57 A79 A64
 Queen's Gambit Accepted (9) 
    D20 D27 D29 D26
 Sicilian Dragon (7) 
    B72 B78 B76 B70 B73
 Sicilian Richter-Rauser (7) 
    B65 B63
 Benko Gambit (6) 
    A57
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Miles vs S Rachels, 1989 1/2-1/2
   Fedorowicz vs S Rachels, 1989 1/2-1/2
   Kudrin vs S Rachels, 1989 0-1
   S Rachels vs A A McManus, 1987 1-0
   F Lindsay vs S Rachels, 1987 0-1
   S Rachels vs Browne, 1989 1-0
   S Rachels vs D Gurevich, 1989 1-0
   Dzindzichashvili vs S Rachels, 1992 1/2-1/2
   S Rachels vs Short, 1990 1/2-1/2

NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
   United States Championship (1989)
   88th US Open (1987)
   USA Junior Invitational Championship (1987)
   USA Junior Invitational Championship (1986)
   Regency Masters (1983)
   USA Masters (1990)
   United States Championship (1992)
   World Junior Championship (1988)
   New York Open (1987)
   Manila Interzonal (1990)

RECENT GAMES:
   🏆 WchT Seniors 50
   V Wolf vs S Rachels (Feb-26-25) 1/2-1/2
   S Rachels vs J Emms (Feb-25-25) 1/2-1/2
   V Trickov vs S Rachels (Feb-21-25) 1/2-1/2
   S Rachels vs J Lipka (Feb-20-25) 0-1
   T Coste vs S Rachels (Feb-19-25) 1/2-1/2

Search Sacrifice Explorer for Stuart Rachels
Search Google for Stuart Rachels
FIDE player card for Stuart Rachels

STUART RACHELS
(born Sep-26-1969, 55 years old) United States of America

[what is this?]

IM Stuart Rachels was born in Alabama. He started playing chess when he was nine years old and, in 1981, he was the first American to become a master before the age of 12. He tied for first in the 1989 U.S. Championship http://graeme.50webs.com/chesschamp... with Roman Dzindzichashvili and Yasser Seirawan. He thereby qualified for the Manila Interzonal (1990), where he scored 6 out of 13.

Rachels received two grandmaster norms, but retired (for about thirty years) from serious chess in 1993 before receiving the necessary third norm for the title. He is now an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama. He is the author of the acclaimed book The Best I Saw at Chess: Games, Stories and Instruction from an Alabama Prodigy Who Became U.S. Champion.

Wikipedia article: Stuart Rachels

Last updated: 2025-03-21 09:41:52

Try our new games table.

 page 1 of 6; games 1-25 of 138  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J Litvinchuk vs S Rachels  ½-½261983USA Junior ChampionshipA64 Benoni, Fianchetto, 11...Re8
2. S Rachels vs D Glueck  ½-½431983USA Junior ChampionshipC04 French, Tarrasch, Guimard Main line
3. D Griego vs S Rachels  ½-½231983USA Junior ChampionshipA46 Queen's Pawn Game
4. S Rachels vs P Wolff  ½-½511983USA Junior ChampionshipC42 Petrov Defense
5. M Ardaman vs S Rachels  ½-½481983USA Junior ChampionshipA07 King's Indian Attack
6. Benjamin vs S Rachels 1-0251983USA Junior ChampionshipB23 Sicilian, Closed
7. S Rachels vs V Genfan  0-1471983USA Junior ChampionshipC08 French, Tarrasch, Open, 4.ed ed
8. Dlugy vs S Rachels  1-0451983USA Junior ChampionshipA79 Benoni, Classical, 11.f3
9. S Rachels vs J Yedidia  ½-½561983USA Junior ChampionshipA05 Reti Opening
10. G de Boer vs S Rachels  1-0321983Regency MastersA79 Benoni, Classical, 11.f3
11. Y Lamorelle vs S Rachels  0-1451983Regency MastersB53 Sicilian
12. S Rachels vs A Kosten  1-0391983Regency MastersB22 Sicilian, Alapin
13. S Rachels vs Forintos  ½-½681983Regency MastersB22 Sicilian, Alapin
14. K Pytel vs S Rachels  1-0271983Regency MastersD42 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3
15. U Zak vs S Rachels  0-1431983Regency MastersA04 Reti Opening
16. Dreev vs S Rachels  1-0381984World Championship (U16)B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
17. S Rachels vs Tom Denton  1-0181984Alabama State chE12 Queen's Indian
18. Spassky vs S Rachels  1-034198586th US OpenA07 King's Indian Attack
19. S Rachels vs V Rao  0-1381986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipB78 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long
20. I Gurevich vs S Rachels  ½-½331986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipB78 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack, 10.castle long
21. A Lief vs S Rachels  ½-½611986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipA29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto
22. J Litvinchuk vs S Rachels  ½-½341986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipA57 Benko Gambit
23. A Fishbein vs S Rachels  1-0771986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipB72 Sicilian, Dragon
24. S Rachels vs I Shtern  1-0491986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipE12 Queen's Indian
25. S Rachels vs P Wolff  ½-½401986USA Junior Invitational ChampionshipB07 Pirc
 page 1 of 6; games 1-25 of 138  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Rachels wins | Rachels loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-27-07  MichAdams: A remark attributed to Hemingway: <There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.>
Dec-27-07  Jim Bartle: So according to Hemingway, it's only a sport if you might die.
Dec-27-07  Petrosianic: Well, if that's the criteria, then rugby should qualify too.
Dec-27-07  MichAdams: Criterion. I know that you'll welcome the correction.
Dec-27-07  Petrosianic: Oops. Actually, I think we're both wrong. Isn't it criterium?
Dec-27-07  MichAdams: Not unless it's Petrosium.
Dec-27-07  Petrosianic: Nope. Just looked in thefreedictionary. Criterium isn't there, criterion is. I guess you're right.
Dec-27-07  MichAdams: It has to do with whether the root of the word is Greek or Latin.
Dec-28-07  Helios727: Impulses of neurons in the brain would occur when playing Monopoly as well.
Dec-29-07  norami: In the essay referred to above, Rachels claimed that the same anti-intellectualism that causes Americans to ignore chess also caused Americans to elect G. W. Bush. I wonder if he would be interested in applying that analysis to racial voting patterns in America.
Dec-30-07  apple pi: <Impulses of neurons in the brain would occur when playing Monopoly as well.> Yeah but Monopoly involves luck (rolling of die)
Jan-02-08  Petrosianic: <In the essay referred to above, Rachels claimed that the same anti-intellectualism that causes Americans to ignore chess also caused Americans to elect G. W. Bush.>

That was the weakest part of the essay. That kind of thing might be a satisfying way to help us explain the election of people we don't like, but what does it say when people we <do> like get elected? "Oh, that one didn't count. The public was feeling smart that day."

Jan-02-08  MichAdams: Rachels is just jealous that Bush has a full head of hair. Or maybe he's a homosexual.
Jan-02-08  Jim Bartle: Rachels may have less ON his head than Bush, but I'm quite sure he has a lot more inside his head than George W. Then of course, most people do.
Jan-02-08  MichAdams: How many follicly challenged American Presidents have their been? Only Eisenhower and Ford spring to mind, though my memory doesn't go back that far .

That's why I'm supporting Romney for President.

Jan-02-08  Jim Bartle: Truthfully, that's the best reason I've heard yet to support Romney.

But I'm surprised to see your point is basically right. It's also true that almost all presidents have had more or less common last names (with possible exception of Eisenhower). So that doesn't bode well for Huckabee.

Jan-02-08  MichAdams: Never be suprised that I'm right, basically or otherwise.

There's no way that a successful, articulate, handsome Republican could lose to a woman or an ethnic. The GOP have this one in the bag.

Jan-02-08  Jim Bartle: I'm afraid you may be right, though a GOP president will be up against an even stronger Democratic majority in Congress.

I would call Romney a successful, articulate, handsome Ken doll, with pre-programmed bland answers (or non-answers) to all questions. Doesn't risk much, doesn't slip up much.

Jan-02-08  MichAdams: America doesn't need a political leader who wants to actually achieve things; it needs someone who'll do as little (harm) as possible, and who looks good not doing it.

Go, Mitt, go!

Jan-02-08  Jim Bartle: Then Mitt's perfect.
Jan-08-08  Helios727: Actually we need Ron Paul to revamp our monetary and foreign policies.
Jan-08-08  Jim Bartle: Oh no! The last Ron Paul-free bastion of the Internet, breached!!
Feb-04-09  blacksburg: Jan-02-08 <There's no way that a successful, articulate, handsome Republican could lose to a woman or an ethnic. The GOP have this one in the bag.>

oh, goodness. an "ethnic"? silly republicans.

Mar-08-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  LIFE Master AJ: Stuart and I (I = A.J. Goldsby I) have played many games. At least four or five of our encounters are in old copies of "The Alabama Chess Antics." If I remember clearly, we drew our games in 1983 and 1984 at the AL State Championships.

There was also a nice article in "Chess Life" a while back about Stuart, Vivek Rao and Tal Shaked.

Jun-13-10  Caissanist: In today's NYT Rachels is quoted as saying that he has not returned to tournament chess because “It would be disappointing to come back and be mediocre.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/c...
Jump to page #   (enter # from 1 to 3)
search thread:   
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing>

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific player only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes!
Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC