Luka Karlušić (kaktus71) - FIDE Master
Luka Karlušić, who plays online as kaktus71, is a FIDE Master and a prolific online competitor known for long, tactical fights and an uncanny ability to bounce back. Luka prefers Daily games but excels across all speeds, from Bullet skirmishes to marathon Blitz sessions. This short biography highlights Luka's style, favorite openings, memorable streaks, and a tiny dose of chess humor.
Career snapshot
Active since 2019 on popular online platforms, Luka has built a large body of games and a reputation as a tenacious player who often drags opponents into deep, endgame-heavy battles. For a visual trend of Luka's Blitz progress, see the chart below.
- Preferred time control: Daily. This is where Luka feels most at home and produces the most thoughtful games.
- Title: FIDE Master.
- Blitz progress:
- Career peak highlight: 2754 (2025-11-07)
Playing style
Luka mixes positional understanding with sharp tactical alertness. Expect long games and persistent pressure. A little humor for visitors: if the game lasts more than 60 moves, Luka considers it a moderately successful therapy session.
- Endgame frequency is high - Luka plays lots of long, technical games.
- Average moves per win: about 75. Luka is patient and willing to grind.
- Early resignation rate: 0.5. Luka will sometimes let the drama linger.
- Comeback rate: very strong, around 86 percent. Losing material is rarely the end.
Favorite openings and weapons
Luka plays a wide repertoire. Below are some of the most-played openings with links to the terms for quick reference.
- Colle System - Rhamphorhynchus Variation (Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation) - a staple with strong results as White.
- Sicilian Defense - Taimanov Variation, American Attack (Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, American Attack) - a frequent choice as Black.
- English Opening - Agincourt Defense (English Opening: Agincourt Defense)
- Amazon Attack and Siberian Attack (Amazon Attack) - an unorthodox favorite with surprising success.
- Australian Defense and various French Defense lines (Australian Defense, French Defense)
Memorable games and streaks
Luka has enjoyed impressive runs and a few wild swings. The record books include a longest winning streak of 41 games and some dramatic comeback wins. Opponents include frequent rivals such as nbedic and Félix Bouchard.
- Longest winning streak: 41 games.
- Current losing streak: 4 games. Even champions have off days.
- Sample game to explore (quick study or entertainment):
- Want to study a matchup? Check Luka's frequent foe: nbedic.
- Memorable pattern: strong late-night performances - Luka's best hour is around 02:00 according to time analytics.
Fun facts and tendencies
- Preferred time control: Daily. Luka does deep thinking and long plans in correspondence-style play.
- Best time of day: 02:00. Yes, the moon helps calculate tactics.
- Top hours by win rate include 02:00 and 00:00, while very early mornings around 06:00 are less forgiving.
- As White, Luka wins slightly more often than as Black - White win rate is about 51 percent.
- Psychology note: strong comeback ability. If you think you have Luka beaten, double check your math.
Closing notes
Luka Karlušić, a.k.a. kaktus71, blends study, grit, and a dash of creativity to produce a large and instructive game collection. Whether you want to mine openings like the Colle System or study long endgames, Luka is a rich source of instructive games. Happy exploring, and may your knights find nicer squares than Luka's opponents do.