Fred Lardet

Fred Lardet (lafreu)

Fred Lardet, known in the chess world by the username lafreu, is a resilient and spirited chess player whose journey reads like a thrilling underdog story with occasional blunders and lucky escapes. While not a grandmaster just yet, Fred's passion for the game shines through in every move and match played.

Rating Rollercoaster

Fred’s chess rating has seen its share of peaks and valleys. His rapid rating peaked at a respectable 937 back in early 2022, but has fluctuated since then, most recently hovering around the mid-500s to high 600s in 2023, showing the typical ups and downs of a determined player fighting their way through the ranks. In daily chess, Fred has recently achieved a personal best of 719, proving that he can turn the tide when given a bit more time to ponder his moves. Blitz ratings have been more modest, peaking at 418, but hey, speed chess can be brutal!

Playing Style: The Comeback Kid

Known for an impressive 80% comeback rate after falling behind, Fred frequently channels his inner phoenix on the chessboard. Despite the occasional early resignation (around 1.25%), he loves to drag opponents into complex endgames — he ventures into endgames in over 67% of his games—showcasing patience and persistence. His average win length is 56 moves, but losses tend to last even longer, speaking to a dogged refusal to surrender quietly.

Fred’s performance with the white pieces is slightly better (48.7% win rate) than with black (45.7%), but he's equally challenging no matter the color. Expect some quirky, offbeat openings and defenses because Fred never shies away from testing the waters of uncommon variations.

Favorite Openings & Quirks

Fred has a love-hate relationship with the King’s Pawn Opening, having played it over 500 times with about a 45% win rate —quite the commitment! His secret weapon? The Scandinavian Defense, where he boasts a winning record of over 53% in rapid games, often catching opponents off guard.

In blitz, Fred’s Scandinavian Defense variations mostly prevail, with notable success in the Mieses-Kotrc and Closed variations, proving he can keep up or even outpace speedier competitors despite not being the fastest on the clock.

Recent Battles - Checkmate and Chuckles

In one of his latest spectacular wins, Fred delivered a checkmate in just 27 moves, showing that when luck and skill align, magic happens on the board. On the flip side, his losses sometimes feature curious resignations that leave spectators wondering if Fred merely tripped over his own tactics —but hey, that’s chess for you!

Statistics That Tell a Tale

• Total Rapid Wins: 1347
• Total Rapid Losses: 1348 (yep, almost a perfect balance!)
• Blitz Wins: 101 with a near 52% win rate
• Longest Winning Streak: 10 games (get on Fred’s bandwagon!)
• Longest Losing Streak: 10 games (even the best stumble!)
• Best Time for Fred to Play: 5 AM – when the mind is sharpest or the coffee is strongest.

Final Notes

Fred Lardet might not have grandmaster flair, but his dedication, resilience, and cheeky fight make him an entertaining player to follow. Whether he's pulling off clutch comebacks or learning the hard way, Fred’s chess journey is proof that passion and persistence always have a place on the board. So keep an eye on lafreu—you never know when he'll surprise you with a brilliant move... or a hilarious blunder.