Jack Engel (jlengel39) - The Rising Chess Maverick
Meet Jack Engel, a chess player with a username as straightforward as his path up the rating ladder: jlengel39. From humble beginnings with a modest Daily rating of 377 in mid-2024, Jack has steadily climbed the ranks, smashing the 1000 Daily rating barrier by May 2025. Though he’s not yet grandmaster material, his progress is nothing short of inspiring for anyone who believes in slow and steady.
Playing Style & Strengths
Jack plays with the patience of a saint — his average moves per win hover around 50, meaning he loves a good, methodical battle. His endgame frequency (52%) shows he’s not one to rush; he lets the game simmer, stirring trouble for opponents when they least expect it. He resigns early only about 2.7% of the time, which is impressive because it means he’s prepared to wrestle through tough positions rather than throw in the towel.
Perhaps Jack’s most remarkable feature is his comeback rate of 70%. That’s right — he turns what looks like a sinking ship into a victorious voyage nearly three out of every four times he’s behind. When he loses a piece, his chance of still winning is just under 50%, making him an annoying foe who refuses to quit.
Preferred Openings & Tactics
Jack’s devotion to the mysterious “Top Secret” opening (which may or may not involve a secret handshake with the chess gods) pays off spectacularly in Daily games, with an 85% win rate — talk about keeping his opponents guessing! When playing Daily chess, he's not shy about trying the Vienna Game Falkbeer Vienna Gambit, scoring a perfect 100% in his limited attempts.
His Bullet and Blitz games reveal a more experimental side. With a Bullet max rating that bounced from 315 in June 2024 to above 400 in 2025 and a Blitz peak of 817, Jack’s speed-chess skills are fast and furious, even if his bullet win rate hovers around 50%. He can strike with precision but also occasionally trips over his own knight.
Statistical Quirks and Fun Facts
- Jack’s best time to play is apparently noon — where he sports a perfect 100% win rate in one recorded hour. Definitely not when the lunch lady steals his sandwich!
- He thrives on Thursdays with a 66% win rate and shows his grit even on Monday blues with 58% wins.
- He’s undefeated against a handful of players like rmichele and pigballer, but let’s just say gmiracle (recent opponent) has gotten the better edge now and then.
- Jack’s longest winning streak impressively hits 8 games — that’s almost a full chess marathon without a stumble.
Recent Battles
On May 17, 2025, Jack triumphed over “gmiracle” by resignation in a Daily game using a daring Vienna Gambit line, sealing the win with patient endgame tactics after over 30 moves. Just days later, Jack showed his tenacity by winning two consecutive Live Chess games on May 30, using the Scandinavian Defense to good effect, although that day also reminded him that even the best have off moments — losing a tough game to opponent “aeyjayy” by checkmate.
Summary
Jack Engel is that guy in any chess club who's steadily improving, always striving, and notoriously hard to beat when the going gets tough. His tactical awareness and psychological tenacity keep opponents on their toes. Whether you face him in blitz or daily, expect a game filled with fights, comebacks, and occasionally a secret opening or two.
Watch this space: Jack is busy plotting his next big breakthrough, probably over a cup of coffee and a few thousand opening lines!
