Avatar of Christof Sielecki

Christof Sielecki IM

Username: Chessexplained

Location: Dinslaken

Playing Since: 2012-09-02 (Active)

Wow Factor: ♟♟♟♟♟

Chess.com

Daily: 2283
554W / 4L / 51D
Rapid: 2148
19W / 9L / 1D
Blitz: 2634
608W / 474L / 152D
Bullet: 2624
207W / 92L / 24D

Christof Sielecki (Chessexplained)

International Master of the 64 Squares

Meet Christof Sielecki, better known in the chess realm as Chessexplained, an International Master who treats the chessboard like a stage and every game like a dramatic play where pawns are the unsung heroes and queens do all the talking. Known for his sharp analytical mind and an enviable blitz speed, Christof has dazzled opponents across formats: blitz, bullet, rapid, and daily games – you name it, he's probably crushed it!

Chess Career Highlights

  • Titles: International Master (FIDE)
  • Peak Ratings:
    • Blitz: 2672 (October 2023) – That blinding speed and precision make his games exciting and downright nerve-wracking for opponents.
    • Bullet: 2624 (October 2023) – Because who doesn’t love a player who can think at the speed of light?
    • Daily: 2392 (February 2014) – When patience and depth rule the day.
    • Rapid: 2226 (November 2014) – Quick thinking with enough time to carefully deploy a sneaky tactic.

Playing Style & Personality

Christof’s games are a chess buffet. Known for his high endgame frequency (over 70%) and a playstyle where he does not easily resign early (resignation rate about 3.3%), he enjoys turning what seems like lost causes into brilliant comebacks – with an impressive ~77% comeback rate! He loves to keep his opponents guessing, often winning more with the white pieces (around 67% success) but equally tricky with black (62.5% wins).

With an average of 64 moves per win and about 78 moves per loss, matches featuring Christof aren’t sprints – they’re epic marathons filled with tactical fireworks and strategic depth. His "tilt factor" is measured at 15%, so yes, sometimes even his inner calm guru faces a stiff challenge!

Blitz & Bullet Wizardry

When the clock ticks down, Christof truly shines. Over the years, he has played over a thousand blitz games with nearly a 50% winning rate in one of the most unforgiving formats there is. In bullet games, he boasts a phenomenal win rate of over 64%. His bullet performance often leaves opponents blinking in disbelief and scrambling to hit the clock fast enough.

Notable Streaks & Records

  • Longest winning streak: 65 games – a veritable blitz beast unleashed!
  • Lowest streak to fear: only a 15-game losing spiral (been there, done that, learned from it)
  • Daily chess powerhouse with a win rate over 91% – truly a legend in the world of correspondence chess.

When Does Christof Play Best?

The gods of chess favor the early riser or the late-night thinker – his best time to play peaks at the wizardly hour of 3 AM. Perhaps the silence and darkness fuel his tactical brilliance or maybe the rest of us should just follow that schedule and learn a thing or two!

Recent Games Snapshot

Christof's recent wins showcase his impeccable technique and endgame mastery. One recent blitz victory involved a deft handling of the King's Indian Attack Sicilian Variation, ending with the opponent's graceful resignation after a relentless positional squeeze.
On the other side, even masters stumble sometimes: his most recent loss came against a strong opponent via the English Opening, proving once again that the 64 squares can be full of surprises every time.

Fun Fact

Despite his fierce competitive edge, Christof has an approachable online presence, sharing insights, laughs, and instructive content with thousands of fans worldwide under the alias Chessexplained. So no matter if you’re a beginner or aspiring chess ninja, he's just a video away from improving your game and brightening your day!

In chess, as in life, it’s not just about winning—it’s about explaining why the queen went for the squirrel. And Christof Sielecki, indeed, explains it all.


Coach's Avatar

Overall sense of your recent rapid play

You show a flexible and creative style in rapid games, with a willingness to enter dynamic, unequal positions. Your openings often lead to active middlegames where you can generate practical chances. The balance between aggression and calculation is a strength, and your experience as a trainer shines through in sharp sequences and tactical awareness. To build on this, focus on turning those moments of initiative into clear, concrete plans and reliable conversions.

What you’re doing well

  • Willingness to play dynamic openings that create imbalances and practical chances for both sides.
  • Strong tactical instincts in complex middlegames, especially when you can activate pieces and create pressure on key files or diagonals.
  • Good resilience in tight or tactical skirmishes; you keep fighting and look for active counterplay rather than retreating into passive structures.
  • Ability to navigate sharp transitions and keep the momentum in favorable lines.

Areas to improve

  • Time management in the middlegame: avoid getting the clock into critical zones too early. Develop a habit of budgeting time for key decision points and pre-screening obvious candidate moves.
  • Endgame conversion and prophylaxis: practice rook endings and king activity so that favorable middlegame positions convert cleanly, reducing drawn-out endgames or missed wins.
  • Calculation discipline: in very tactical positions, verify candidate sequences step by step and watch for hidden tactical resources your opponent may have. Use a structured approach: check, count material, evaluate king safety, and assess threats before committing to a line.
  • Defensive planning in sharp openings: strengthen your defenses against sharp ideas by building a set of prophylactic responses and common resource ideas in your main repertoires.

Actionable training plan

  • Weekly tactical focus: 2 short puzzle sets (15–20 minutes each) emphasizing motifs that appear in your games (forks, pins, discovered attacks, back-rank themes).
  • Endgame mastery: dedicate two sessions per week to rook endings and king activity drills; review annotated rook endgames from master games and practice the key conversion ideas.
  • Opening consolidation: pick 2–3 core lines you’re comfortable with (for example, a dynamic Grunfeld/Grünfeld-leaning setup and Nimzo-Indian/English alternatives). Study typical middlegame plans, typical piece maneuvers, and common endgame transitions for those lines.
  • Post-game review routine: after each rapid game, write 3 bullets: what went well, what could be improved, and a concrete 1–2 step plan for the next game.

Opening notes

Your openings indicate comfort in handling dynamic structures and creating practical chances. Consider tightening preparation around 2–3 main lines to deepen quick decision-making and reduce early uncertainty in rapid time controls. For example, reinforcing typical middlegame ideas in the lines you favor can help you convert more games from the opening into favorable middlegame positions.

References and quick links

Profile: christofsielecki

Opening ideas: KGD: Classical, 3.Bc4 Grünfeld Defense: Counterthrust Variation



🆚 Opponent Insights

Recent Opponents
frostym 2W / 0L / 0D
hzmc92 0W / 1L / 0D
ralfwin 1W / 0L / 0D
smalltownhero 1W / 0L / 0D
smile2005 1W / 0L / 0D
Victor Plotkin 1W / 1L / 0D
corbissimesque 0W / 0L / 1D
rip-danielnaroditsky 0W / 1L / 0D
robertmissher 0W / 1L / 0D
acatsdad 0W / 1L / 0D
Most Played Opponents
gaurav sharma 31W / 0L / 1D
Rogelio Jr Antonio 15W / 16L / 1D
loosefoot007 13W / 10L / 5D
Philofive 14W / 9L / 3D
Alina Kashlinskaya 9W / 11L / 4D

Rating

Year Bullet Blitz Rapid Daily
2025 2634 2148
2024 2614
2023 2624 2586
2022 2545
2020 2413 2530
2018 2406
2017 2357 2351
2016 1803
2015 2312 2317 2283
2014 2290 2302 2156 2299
2013 2328 2354 2343
2012 2342 2319 1769 2173
Rating by Year20122013201420152016201720182020202220232024202526341769YearRatingBulletBlitzRapidDaily

Stats by Year

Year White Black Moves
2025 78W / 46L / 27D 66W / 64L / 19D 80.5
2024 8W / 6L / 2D 6W / 7L / 4D 82.0
2023 69W / 43L / 14D 54W / 52L / 20D 83.2
2022 14W / 14L / 7D 17W / 10L / 5D 89.6
2020 58W / 32L / 7D 50W / 31L / 12D 82.6
2018 1W / 0L / 0D 1W / 0L / 0D 76.5
2017 2W / 1L / 2D 5W / 2L / 1D 60.2
2016 7W / 11L / 0D 9W / 7L / 1D 23.1
2015 16W / 5L / 0D 11W / 4L / 3D 78.9
2014 309W / 30L / 23D 303W / 41L / 35D 63.2
2013 107W / 12L / 9D 103W / 11L / 10D 59.6
2012 100W / 34L / 6D 91W / 33L / 15D 78.3

Openings: Most Played

Blitz Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation 70 32 25 13 45.7%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 39 22 12 5 56.4%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 37 15 15 7 40.5%
Caro-Kann Defense: Exchange Variation 29 19 7 3 65.5%
Unknown 25 15 10 0 60.0%
Australian Defense 23 15 5 3 65.2%
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, American Attack 22 13 8 1 59.1%
Ruy Lopez: Closed 21 14 5 2 66.7%
Ruy Lopez: Morphy Defense, Anderssen Variation 20 10 7 3 50.0%
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation 20 9 8 3 45.0%
Bullet Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 14 11 3 0 78.6%
Amar Gambit 12 10 2 0 83.3%
Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation 12 7 5 0 58.3%
Indian Defense: Przepiorka Variation 11 6 3 2 54.5%
Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit 11 8 0 3 72.7%
Döry Defense 10 6 2 2 60.0%
King's Indian Attack: French Variation 10 8 2 0 80.0%
Modern 9 6 2 1 66.7%
Barnes Defense 8 5 2 1 62.5%
King's Indian Attack 7 4 3 0 57.1%
Daily Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Caro-Kann Defense 22 20 0 2 90.9%
Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation 18 17 0 1 94.4%
Petrov's Defense 17 16 0 1 94.1%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 16 16 0 0 100.0%
Blackburne Shilling Gambit 16 15 0 1 93.8%
Czech Defense 15 15 0 0 100.0%
Dutch Defense 12 12 0 0 100.0%
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation 12 10 1 1 83.3%
Barnes Defense 12 11 0 1 91.7%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 12 11 0 1 91.7%

🔥 Streaks

Streak Longest Current
Winning 65 1
Losing 5 0