Dirk Paulsen is a FIDE Master and a lively presence in the online chess world. As a dedicated streamer, he blends thoughtful analysis with a healthy dose of humor, inviting viewers to learn, laugh, and improve together. His preferred battlefield is the Daily time control, where long-term planning and practical decision-making shine.
Career and Title
Dirk earned the FIDE Master title from FIDE, a testament to his steady growth and competitive spirit. He trains, streams, and plays with a resilience that keeps him connected to a broad community of players, from curious beginners to ambitious improvers. His online presence is built on accessible explanations of ideas that work in real games, especially under the daily rhythm of daily play.
Preferred time control: Daily
Active streamer sharing game analysis, openings, and practical insights
Openings in his repertoire range from Alekhine Defense to Colle System variants and the dynamic King’s Indian family
Opening Philosophy
Dirk treats openings as a means to reach comfortable, fighting middlegames rather than chasing memorization. He enjoys a broad palette, from solid Colle setups to sharp lines in the Alekhine Defense and the King’s Indian Defense Makogonov Variation, always aiming for active play and clear plans.
Streaming and Community
On air, Dirk combines deep tactical awareness with approachable commentary. His streams are a collaborative space where viewers test ideas, dissect mistakes, and celebrate small improvements. The community vibe is friendly, curious, and relentlessly encouraging of learning in public.
Fun Facts
Believes chess is best learned through playing and talking through moves aloud.
Has a knack for turning tough endgames into instructional battles.
Keeps a steady stream schedule that makes daily practice part of his online identity.
Dirk, your recent games show solid understanding of the opening principles and good tactical awareness. You have successfully executed attacks and capitalized on opponent mistakes, as evident from your well-played wins.
Strengths
Opening Knowledge: You demonstrate familiarity with multiple openings such as the Dutch Defense and Modern Defense, allowing you to obtain playable positions with good chances.
Positional Play: You manage to develop pieces effectively and coordinate them well during the middle game.
Tactical Awareness: Your ability to spot tactical opportunities like forks, pins, and mating threats is commendable and has helped you convert advantageous positions.
Areas to Improve
King Safety: In some games, especially your losses, your king position became vulnerable early on. Be mindful of timely castling and avoiding weakening pawn moves around your king.
Calculation Depth: There were moments where your opponents forced complications that caught you off guard. Working on deeper calculation and anticipating opponent threats can help here.
Endgame Technique: While you have good attacking skills, focusing on basic endgame principles and technique will help convert more close games into wins.
Time Management: Use your clock wisely; even though you have decent time nearly all the way, try to spend sufficient time on critical moments and avoid rushing moves.
Suggestions for Training
Review your losses carefully and identify recurring tactical mistakes or miscalculations.
Practice endgame exercises focusing on king and pawn endings, as well as rook endings.
Analyze winning games and try to extend your combination calculations by visualizing opponent responses.
Keep up the good work and continue to build on your strengths while addressing these key areas. Your progress is clearly visible and with focused effort, your chess level will keep rising.
