Reményik Kis: The Unstoppable b3 Machine
Who Is Reményik Kis?
Reményik Kis, known on the board as kisremenyik, is an online chess phenomenon who turned one simple opening into a way of life. Starting in September 2023 with a modest 400 rapid rating, Kis displayed the patience of a player happy to draw first and strike later. By September 2026, they have climbed from a 400-level start to a level that commands respect, all without abandoning their beloved first move.
With a longest winning streak of 9 games and a comeback rate of 75.03%, Kis specializes in turning lost positions into wins. Lose a piece? No problem. Kis wins 44.72% of games after losing material, which is either elite resilience or a very elaborate scheme to keep things interesting.
One Opening to Rule Them All
Look at Kis's games and you will spot a pattern: the Nimzo-Larsen Attack (1.b3) appears hundreds of times, forming the backbone of their white repertoire. This flank opening, which prepares to fianchetto the queen's bishop, is played with the devotion of a chess monk. Whether facing the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation as Black or grinding out the Colle System as White, Kis always steers the game back to familiar territory.
- In Rapid, the Nimzo-Larsen Attack scores a 62.29% win rate across 236 games.
- As White, Kis plays 1.b3 in over 95% of games, with occasional rebellions like 1.e4.
- The Amar Gambit and Australian Defense also make cameo appearances, proving a soft spot for offbeat openings.
Built for the Bullet
While Kis has a serious rapid game, their true love is 1629 (2026-08-30). The rating history tells a hilarious story: months of measured rapid play followed by sudden bursts of hundreds of bullet games. In July 2026, Kis played 120 bullet games; in August, 169;in September, 111. That is not a hobby;that is a full-time job.
At bullet, Kis once suffered a 13-game losing streak, then simply queued up again. The current winning streak sits at 9 games. A tilt factor of 13 suggests Kis may rage-queue, but 291 bullet wins say it works.
A Rivalry for the Ages
No profile of Kis is complete without mentioning Marton Mihaly Szabo, their most played opponent by a landslide: 167 games. The record: 8 wins, 26 losses,and 133 draws. Yes, 133 draws. These two have essentially spent several lifetimes playing chess together, mostly ending in a mutual shrug.
Kis also has mini-rivalries with huba13 and h2o3413, but nobody else approaches the szmm19 marathon. If chess introduced a "best friends" category, these two would win by draw count.
Inside the Mind of a Marathoner
Kis checks opponents' kings with queens (1,467 career queen checks)and saves rooks for the endgame. With a 75.7% endgame frequency, they are comfortable grinding deep into the game, averaging over 72 moves per win. Their best time to play? 08:00 in themorning, when the coffee is fresh and the opposition is sleepy.
- Comeback rate: 75.03%, down but never out.
- White win rate: 53.05%, a solid foundation.
- Black win rate: 44.52%, work in progress.
Kis's journey from a modest start to the upper ranks proves that stubbornness, a good flank opening,and an unlimited supply of bullet games can take you remarkably far. As of September 2026, Kis remains active, still playing b3, still drawing szmm19,and showing no signs of stopping.