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Chess Assassin NM

Username: ChessTrail

Location: Sunnyvale CA

Playing Since: 2012-08-01 (Active)

Wow Factor: ♟♟♟♟♟♟

Chess.com

Blitz: 2443
8147W / 9319L / 1308D
Bullet: 2232
5W / 13L / 3D

Chess Assassin - The National Master of Blitz Warfare

Known in the chess realm as Chess Assassin or simply ChessTrail, this virtuoso has earned the esteemed title of National Master, a badge of honor bestowed by the National chess authority. A relentless competitor, Chess Assassin’s journey through the ranks is littered with foes vanquished and battles fiercely contested.

Career and Rating Highlights

Bursting onto the scene in 2016 with a modest blitz rating around 1343, Chess Assassin quickly evolved into a fearsome blitz player, soaring to a peak rating of an impressive 2642 by October 2024. Their rapid play isn’t to be overlooked either, boasting a peak of 2565, while bullet battles reveal a fiery spirit with a high of 2565 in 2020. Not too shabby for an assassin who prefers to strike swiftly and decisively!

Playing Style: The Art of Swift Checkmates and Tactical Brilliance

If Chess Assassin had a motto, it would be “Endgames? Bring it on!” With a hefty 86.89% endgame frequency, they showcase a masterful command of the late phase of the game. Their average moves per win hover around 82, signaling deeply strategic play, while losses tend to drag on a bit longer at about 88 moves—because even in defeat, the Assassin fights to the bitter end. With a razor-sharp comeback rate nearing 89%, taking back control after setbacks, this player knows how to claw back from the brink.

Mind Over Board: Psychological Traits

With a modest 13 tilt factor, Chess Assassin keeps their cool even under pressure. The best time to catch this tempest unleashed? Around 11:00 am, when the mind is clear and ready to pounce. Their resilience shines through, managing to win more than 40% of games even after losing a piece—a true sign of tactical genius and psychological toughness.

Record and Rivalries

Having battled over 18,600 blitz games and accumulating a record of 8114 wins, 9262 losses, and 1302 draws, Chess Assassin is no stranger to both glory and heartbreak. Among their fiercest rivals are the likes of alrs-sps, michaelbaron, and mihaiionescu1, whom they have faced numerous times. Though the win rate hovers at about 43%, it’s the fierce tenacity and never-say-die attitude that truly sets this player apart.

Memorable Battles

Chess Assassin's recent games are a thrilling display of strategic prowess and time management mastery:

  • Latest Triumph: On April 10, 2025, ChessTrail showcased impeccable defense and time management to secure a win by timeout against Momchilgradcity, demonstrating patience and precision in the King’s Pawn Opening with the St. George Defense.
  • Recent Defeats: Even the best face setbacks. On April 11, 2025, a challenging Sicilian Defense game led to a tough loss against MarcosGutiGarcia—proof that every master has to bow before fate sometimes.

Summary

In summary, Chess Assassin is a National Master with a killer instinct wrapped in strategic sophistication. Whether blitz, rapid, or bullet, their game weaves together tactical strikes, psychological endurance, and endgame finesse. This player may be known as an assassin on the board, but off the board, they’re a charming enigma—leaving opponents guessing not just their moves but their next legendary play!


Coach's Avatar

Overall Performance Insights

Your recent play shows resilience and steady improvement over the past half year with a 6-month rating increase of 134 points, indicating strong growth and adaptation in your blitz games. However, the past month has been challenging, with a slight dip of 21 points, reflecting the natural fluctuations in competitive play.

Your strength adjusted win rate near 50% is a solid foundation, suggesting you are holding your own against players of similar strength, but there's room to push this higher with focused training.

Recent Game Highlights

  • Your wins often come from active piece play and exploiting timing advantages, as seen in games where you capitalized on opponent time pressure.
  • In some losses, it appears your opponent skillfully navigated complex positions, especially in Sicilian Defense variations like the Dragon and Taimanov, where precise calculation is vital.
  • You demonstrate aggressive opening play with moves like early f-pawn advances and targeted attacks on weak squares, which can unsettle opponents when timed well.
  • Endgame technique is mostly solid but could benefit from honing, especially in rook and pawn endgames where precise maneuvering often decides the result.

Opening Repertoire & Suggestions

Your preference for openings such as the Sicilian Defense and King's Pawn Opening St George Defense has brought you competitive positions, but some lines show recurring tactical challenges:

  • Review key positions in the sicilian-defense-open-dragon-variation...7.o-o-o-o-8.bb3-nc6 and sicilian-defense-taimanov-bastrikov-variation...7.a3-nf6-8.f4-d6-9.qf3 to improve tactical awareness against thematic opponent plans.
  • Deepen understanding of pawn structures in your favorite lines—examples include managing isolated or doubled pawns to avoid long-term weaknesses.
  • Experiment with slightly more solid or flexible approaches in critical junctures to minimize early material concessions seen in some losses.

Time Management & Calculation

Blitz games require sharp time management. Some losses highlight moments where time pressure may have led to inaccuracies:

  • Practice maintaining a consistent pace to avoid rushed decisions in complex positions.
  • Use slower training games or puzzles to improve calculation depth in key tactical moments.
  • Focus on evaluating critical trade-offs quickly but accurately to maintain momentum during time scrambles.

Next Steps for Improvement

  • Analyze your losses carefully on positions involving tactical blunders or miscalculations—learn to spot recurring patterns.
  • Study the transition from opening to middlegame to avoid falling into slightly inferior positions early on.
  • Keep practicing endgame technique to convert advantageous positions more reliably and salvage difficult ones.
  • Maintain a balanced training schedule focusing on openings, tactics, and strategic endgames to improve your overall game quality.
  • Leverage your rating trend slopes, which show positive momentum in some stretches, by building confidence with targeted game reviews.

Keep up the good work and focus on steady progress; your continued dedication will yield more wins and stronger competitive performances.



🆚 Opponent Insights

Recent Opponents
Elmira Karnaukhova 2W / 0L / 0D
movetowardstheexit 1W / 1L / 0D
manafraidofhorses 3W / 3L / 0D
hammerhandsz 0W / 1L / 0D
melchorlforondaiii 0W / 1L / 1D
egorchessch 1W / 2L / 0D
fyodor_chess 0W / 1L / 0D
Most Played Opponents
Lindolfo Luiz Da Silva 38W / 31L / 7D
Michael Baron 29W / 29L / 7D
Mihai Ionescu 40W / 15L / 6D
Daniel Taboas Rodriguez 20W / 32L / 4D
Андрій Шанковський 24W / 30L / 2D

Rating

Year Bullet Blitz Rapid Daily
2025 2463
2024 2526
2023 2565
2021 2565
2020 2232 2531
2018 2546
2017 2322
2016 1571
Rating by Year2016201720182020202120232024202525651571YearRatingBlitz

Stats by Year

Year White Black Moves
2025 421W / 446L / 57D 371W / 496L / 59D 83.4
2024 860W / 825L / 142D 723W / 947L / 156D 85.3
2023 0W / 1L / 0D 0W / 0L / 1D 34.5
2021 1025W / 1129L / 146D 922W / 1223L / 154D 86.5
2020 322W / 347L / 48D 287W / 368L / 46D 89.0
2018 1705W / 1620L / 245D 1453W / 1889L / 252D 88.2
2017 35W / 19L / 2D 30W / 21L / 5D 81.8
2016 1W / 1L / 0D 1W / 1L / 0D 74.0

Openings: Most Played

Blitz Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Caro-Kann Defense 1850 810 932 108 43.8%
Barnes Defense 980 415 495 70 42.4%
Scandinavian Defense 914 412 447 55 45.1%
Barnes Opening: Walkerling 874 418 387 69 47.8%
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Amsterdam Variation 633 311 289 33 49.1%
Amar Gambit 621 237 333 51 38.2%
Alekhine Defense 453 193 228 32 42.6%
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation 441 209 203 29 47.4%
QGA: 3.e3 c5 385 164 183 38 42.6%
French Defense: Advance Variation 351 164 163 24 46.7%
Rapid Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 2 0 1 1 0.0%
Bullet Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Amar Gambit 9 3 5 1 33.3%
Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation 2 0 1 1 0.0%
Barnes Defense 2 0 2 0 0.0%
Australian Defense 2 1 1 0 50.0%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 1 0 1 0 0.0%
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation 1 0 0 1 0.0%
Nimzo-Larsen Attack 1 0 1 0 0.0%
Modern Defense 1 1 0 0 100.0%
Sicilian Defense 1 0 1 0 0.0%
French Defense 1 0 1 0 0.0%

🔥 Streaks

Streak Longest Current
Winning 10 1
Losing 13 0