Carlos Tovar

Carlos Tovar (aka horse-rirder)

Meet Carlos Tovar, a chess aficionado whose online alias horse-rirder may raise eyebrows but definitely not his opponents' defenses! Known for a rollercoaster Rapid rating journey, Carlos’s peak rating soared to a solid 635 in April 2025—a bold ascent for a player who’s had his fair share of ups, downs, and sideways shuffles on the board.

Playing Style & Strengths

Carlos is a strategist who loves a good fight, averaging over 53 moves per win. He’s not one to surrender easily, sporting a comeback rate of nearly 69%! When pieces fall from grace, don’t count him out—he still clinches victory 44% of the time. But beware, his tilt factor is low (just 10), proving he keeps his cool even when the pawns betray him. Early resignations? Only about 8% of the time, so you won’t catch him throwing in the towel prematurely.

Openings - A Taste of Innovation

Carlos favors openings that keep opponents guessing. His go-to move? The Scandinavian Defense's Mieses Kotrc Variation, dominating with a win rate close to 65%! A dab hand also in the Center Game, where he wins nearly 58% of the time, and the King’s Pawn Opening variations that keep things lively and occasionally unpredictable.

Performance Highlights

• Total Rapid Games: Over 2,400 battles fought on the digital battlefield.
• Win-Loss-Draw Record: Nearly even at 1182 wins, 1161 losses, and 54 draws—proof that every match is a nail-biter.
• Favorite Day & Time to Play: Fridays around 10:00 AM seem to be his sweet spot for peak performance.
• Longest Winning Streak: A fierce 11-game streak when the stars align.
• Most Recent Victory: Sealed by a slick checkmate after a daring dance in Alekhine’s Defense Brooklyn Variation.

Quirky Tidbits

Carlos is known to be unpredictable—not just in his games but in his choice of name and strategies. His opponents sometimes find themselves questioning if they’re playing chess or trying to decode secret messages from a horse whisperer! Also, with a win rate that wildly varies by opponent—from total domination to utter defeat—it’s clear Carlos enjoys keeping things exciting.

Whether hunting pawns or slaying kings, Carlos Tovar / horse-rirder remains a formidable and entertaining force in the online chess world. Just don’t ask him to explain the nickname.