Michal Provaznik is a Czech chess player who earned the FIDE title Candidate Master. A seasoned competitor in online and over-the-board circuits, he is best known for his sharp Bullet battles and a warm, sometimes cheeky, approach to the game. His preferred time control is Bullet, where quick decisions meet creative ideas at the blink of an eye.
Regular presence in fast time controls, facing a diverse pool of opponents on the online and offline boards.
Playing Style
Provaznik is known for endgame savvy and stubborn nerve in tight time trouble. He values long, strategic battles and often walks into endgames with a calm, pragmatic approach. In Blitz, his decisions are quick but precise, with a strong ability to rebound after a rough stretch.
Endgame frequency: ~78%
Avg moves per win: 68.1 | Avg moves per loss: 74.4
Off the clock, Michal enjoys puzzles, playful banter, and sharing a good chess meme. He treats each game as a story with a twist, often narrating his own adventures in a light-hearted, coachable way. A true Bullet enthusiast, he keeps the mood upbeat even when the clock is burning down.
Preferred time control: Bullet
Stance: cheerful competitor who loves teaching through example
Coach Chesswick
What stands out in your recent bullet games
You tend to get active piece play and create dynamic chances, especially when your pieces coordinate on open files or diagonals. Several games show you pressuring the opponent’s king and looking for tactical opportunities, which suits the fast-paced nature of bullet. You also have a knack for finding aggressive pushes that can derail an opponent’s plan when you spot a tactical motif.
Openings you’re using yield mixed results, with some lines producing sharp, double-edged games where your activity matters more than memorized sequences. This can be a strength in bullet if you’re comfortable with rapid calculation, but it also increases the risk of mistakes under time pressure.
Strengths to build on
Creative piece coordination: you often connect pieces quickly and generate mating nets or strong attacking chances when the position allows.
King safety and rapid development: you tend to complete development and castle promptly, which helps you stay active in the early middlegame even under time pressure.
Pressure in open files: you frequently exploit open lines to create threats, especially with rooks and active minor pieces.
Key areas to improve for bullet
Time management: bullet rewards quick, safe decisions. When a tactical sequence gets long, switch to simpler forcing moves or a safer simplification plan to avoid blunders or wasted seconds.
Selective calculation: aim for 2–3 candidate moves per critical moment. If none clearly stands out, choose the simplest, solid plan and avoid overcomplicating the position.
Endgame readiness: many bullets end in imbalanced endgames. Improve rook and king endgames basics (opposition, rook activity, and simple pawn endgames) to convert more advantages.
Opening consolidation: lean on your stronger openings more often and reduce heavy novelty exploration in the heat of bullet time. Focus on two reliable openings for White and two for Black where you already feel comfortable.
Opening choices to consider for bullet
Your results look strongest when you play Barnes Defense and Bird Opening, suggesting you perform well with those structures and can convert initiative into tangible gains. Nimzo-Larsen Attack and some other lines show poorer conversion; consider either simplifying those lines or rotating to alternatives you know better. A compact, well-practiced opening repertoire (two White options and two Black options) can reduce decision fatigue and help you maintain consistency in bullet.
Practical plan to boost bullet performance
Adopt a compact repertoire: pick two openings you enjoy as White and two as Black. Learn 2–3 typical middlegame plans for each and rehearse common tactical motifs that arise from those structures.
Daily tactical practice: 15–20 minutes focusing on motifs that frequently appear in your games (forks, back-rank threats, overloaded pieces, and queen-visitor tactics).
Weekly game reviews: analyze 1–2 recent games in depth, identifying 1 concrete improvement per game to test in future rounds.
Endgame drills: practice common rook endings and king-pawn endgames to convert advantages when the board simplifies under time pressure.
Time-management drills: in each game, designate a quick early phase (first 10–12 moves) and a focused midgame phase for critical moments; aim to keep a comfortable clock pressure rather than chasing last-minute tactics.
Short, concrete next steps
Choose two openings to stick with for White and two for Black in bullet; prepare 2–3 standard plans for each.
Complete 20–30 quick tactical puzzles this week focusing on common patterns seen in your games.
Review one recent game to identify a single improvement you can reliably apply in the next match (e.g., avoid overextension, improve back-rank awareness, or use a specific forcing line).
In training, simulate bullet tempo: practice with a 1-minute increment to build comfort with rapid decision-making while keeping sound principles in mind.
Encouraging note
You have a solid foundation for aggressive, tactical play in bullet. By tightening time management, choosing a tighter opening repertoire, and focusing on a few reliable endgame patterns, you can convert more of those promising middlegame positions into wins.
