Brandon Jacobson IM

Brandon Jacobson: The International Master with a Dash of Drama

Brandon Jacobson, known in chess circles (and on the internet) as iamastraw, proudly bears the title of International Master bestowed by FIDE—a badge of honor that signifies deep strategic prowess and a fair share of battles won on 64 squares.

About the Master

If chess rating were a roller coaster, Brandon’s would rival any amusement park highlight. His peak blitz rating soared to an electrifying 3008 in May 2020, while his bullet rating hit a dizzying 3116 around the same time—a clear testament to his lightning-fast tactics and quick-witted defenses. Armed with over 600 blitz games and a couple hundred bullet matches, Brandon dances fluidly between the fast and the furious, though with an intriguing twist: despite a spectacular streak of 13 wins at one point, he also endured an eye-watering 95-game losing streak. That's chess life for you—glory and grit in equal measure!

Playing Style & Quirks

Known for an early resignation rate of about 41.5%, Brandon is fearless in knowing when to fight and when to cut his losses. His endgames come up more than half the time (53.19%), and he averages about 84 moves per win—enough to prove he’s willing to slog through a chess marathon if the stakes are right. His white pieces bring a slightly higher success rate (32.3%) than his black (28.24%), and his tactical spirit shines with a comeback rate north of 81%. Put simply: lose a piece, don’t panic—Brandon will still find a way to give his opponent a tough time.

The Psychological Battle

Brace yourself: Brandon's tilt factor is a staggering 95 out of 100. Translation? Sometimes the mental chess game off the board is even trickier than the one on it. But our IM thrives best around 1 PM—prime time for striking chess brilliance and hammering home that opening advantage.

Favorite Openings & Noteworthy Opponents

Under the cloak of "Top Secret," Brandon plays 634 blitz and 212 bullet games, with win rates of about 25% and 47% in these categories respectively. He's faced bots and legends alike: Fabian-bot challenged him 291 times, ThunderRPanda 166, and even took on Daniel Naroditsky 63 times—with mixed results. Against some opponents, he’s perfect (100% win rate!), against others, well, he might want a rematch (looking at you, Fabian-bot, at a humbling 0.34% win rate).

A Game to Remember

One of Brandon's recent triumphs was a beautifully executed victory over "Msb2," showcased in a French Defense Steinitz Variation battle on May 22, 2020. The game ended in resignation after a tense 44 moves, demonstrating Brandon’s knack for squeezing the last drop of juice from an advantage. You can relive the drama on chess.com.

Final Thoughts

Brandon Jacobson may not always cruise to victory, but the roller coaster ride he takes on the chessboard is thrilling, relentless, and unmistakably entertaining. Some players chase perfection; Brandon embraces the beautiful chaos of chess with a wink and a grin—ready for the next game, the next challenge, and the next epic comeback. Check and mate, indeed!