Alan Espinoza

Alan Espinoza (aka Alan_808)

Meet Alan Espinoza, a chess enthusiast navigating the battlefield of 64 squares with a spirited mix of tactics, trials, and a sprinkle of humor. Alan's chess journey has seen rapid flashes of brilliance and occasional hiccups—but hey, who’s counting losses when you can keep the game's drama alive?

Rating Rollercoaster

Alan’s peak Rapid rating jolted to an impressive 808 in March 2025—a milestone that proudly stands out among a steady average hovering around the mid-500s. His Blitz and Bullet adventures spell a tale of daring attempts and rapid-fire calculations, peaking at 423 and 576 respectively, while dabbling in daily chess with a calm, steady 400 rating.

Playing Style and Opening Preferences

Alan embraces a chess palette rich in Sicilian Defense variations and Queen's Pawn openings. Notably, the Sicilian Defense Bowdler Attack offers him his best win rate, triumphing in over 83% of games played with it—definitely a go-to weapon when he's feeling confident.

Conversely, the Englund Gambit is his beloved nemesis, with a mere 12.5% win rate. Sometimes you pick your battles, sometimes the battle picks you. But Alan fights on, mixing stubborn defense with aggressive counters, especially savoring games with the Queen’s Pawn Opening at a perfect 100% success rate in rapid games.

The Streaks and Psychology

The chess gods have tested Alan with a longest losing streak of 11 games, but his persistence shines through, boasting a longest winning streak of 8—proof that comebacks aren’t just for storybooks. A tilt factor of 11 suggests Alan occasionally feels the heat, but who doesn’t? His best time of day to bring the heat on the board is around 9 AM, when the caffeine kicks in and the brain is sharpest.

Recent Performances

Alan's recent games paint a picture of bold and tactical play. In his latest rapid victory, he masterfully checkmated “ericsonder” using a classic Queen's Gambit Accepted, showcasing his strategic prowess in a swift 19-move game. Even in losses, Alan’s resilience shows, often in tight fights where every pawn and knight is battled for supremacy.

Fun Facts and Quirks

• Alan loves striking early — his average moves per win hover around 40, proving he’s sometimes more marathon runner than sprinter.
• His white pieces have a better success rate than black, winning just over 51% of the time when opening.
• The player is not afraid to surrender early occasionally (~11.5% early resignation rate)—maybe to save the drama for the next round!
• Known to perform better against players with lower ratings, he comfortably holds an 85% win rate against them.

Overall

Alan Espinoza is the kind of player who’s in it for the love of the game and the thrill of tactical warfare. With a playstyle that oscillates between resilience and calculated aggression, he’s a worthy opponent — or at the very least, a source of entertainment and inspiration for anyone who enjoys watching a fighter on a chessboard.

Here’s to many more battles, blunders, and brilliant moves ahead for Alan_808!