Daan Brandenburg is a Dutch chess Grandmaster known for his dynamic and tactical play, especially in blitz chess. With a peak blitz rating of 2695 achieved in April 2022, Daan is a formidable opponent in fast-paced games. His preferred time control is blitz, where he combines sharp openings and resilient endgame skills to outplay his rivals.
Playing Style & Strengths
Daan’s chess style is characterized by an aggressive approach and strong tactical awareness. His games often feature early captures (average first capture around move 7) and he tends to close out victories efficiently, with an average winning game lasting around 67 moves.
Known for a high comeback rate of 76%, showing resilience under pressure.
Has a strong winning record both when playing White (58% win rate) and Black (54% win rate).
Optimum performance is observed during early mornings – his best playing hour is around 1 AM!
Long winning streaks include an impressive 27 consecutive wins.
Average moves per loss lean towards lengthier battles, showing he fights until the end.
Opening Repertoire
Daan employs a variety of openings, particularly flourishing with aggressive and flexible systems in blitz games:
Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit – With a 64% win rate, this sharp opening suits his direct style.
Sicilian Defense Variations including Delayed Alapin and Old Sicilian – boasting strong results and a combined win rate above 60%.
Reti Opening: King's Indian Attack (KIA) – balanced but slightly riskier, reflecting a preference for complexity.
Also comfortable with the Benko Gambit, showing daring even if sometimes results are mixed.
In daily and bullet games, Daan continues to show versatility, with great results in Caro-Kann and other sharp lines.
Competitive Highlights & Statistics
Over several years, Daan has accumulated an extensive and impressive match record across various formats:
Over 2000 wins in blitz and bullet combined, with a robust win rate in all time controls.
Highest ratings include:
Blitz peak: 2695 (April 2022)
Bullet peak: 2638 (March 2025)
Rapid peak: 2530 (October 2021)
Frequently excels against tough opponents like trustednephite, boasting an over 80% win rate.
Shows a preference for rated fast games but still performs solidly in daily (correspondence style) chess.
Fun Facts
Daan’s best time to play is around 1 AM – early birds and night owls unite!
He once achieved a blazing win streak of 27 games in a row. That’s some serious momentum that could challenge coffee’s effect.
His average game length suggests he enjoys deep battles, not just quick skirmishes.
Despite the rapid pace of blitz and bullet, Daan is known for resilience – his comeback rate is an impressive 76%, proving not to give up even when down!
Coach Chesswick
Coach's Advice
It's been a while since you played. Play a few more games so we have more positions and decisions to review — then I can provide you with clearer, more actionable advice.
