Overview
Eric Hon (username: microbear) is a National Master in chess, awarded the National title for consistent high-level play. A prolific online competitor, Eric favors slower, thoughtful games and lists Daily as his preferred time control. This biography highlights Eric Hon's career, style, and memorable moments for fans searching for "Eric Hon chess", "National Master Eric Hon", or "microbear Daily chess".
Career highlights
- Earned the National Master title from National, cementing his place among strong titled players.
- Longtime specialist of online play with a massive game volume across Bullet, Blitz, Rapid, and Daily formats.
- Peak competitive moments include an elite Bullet peak rating and top performances in Blitz and Rapid events. 2045 (2025-01-02)
- Remarkable durability: one of the longest recorded winning streaks reached 30 games, and Eric is known for gritty comebacks with a high comeback rate.
Playing style
Eric plays like someone who enjoys long fights and sneaky tactical chances. He reaches endgames a lot and often grinds wins in complex positions rather than rushing for quick tactical fireworks.
- Endgame-first approach - very comfortable when the board is simplified. Endgame frequency is high.
- Marathon player - long decisive games are common. Average moves per win indicate deep, drawn-out victories.
- Tactical resilience - strong comeback rate and respectable win rate after losing material. Expect resilient defense and sharp counterattacks.
- Preferred time control: Daily. Daily
Favorite openings and repertoire
Eric is eclectic but loves aggressive, offbeat systems as well as mainstream Sicilian structures. He often surprises opponents with unusual lines and punishes overconfidence.
- Amar Gambit - a signature weapon in fast play and long games. Amar Gambit
- Sicilian Defense and its many subtleties. Sicilian Defense
- Bird Opening and Dutch variations for unbalanced, fighting positions. Bird Opening
- Caro-Kann and Scandinavian show up when he wants solid counterplay. Caro-Kann Defense
Want a visual breakdown of opening success? Try this chart.
Notable opponents and head-to-heads
Eric has faced many regulars on the server. A few of his most-played opponents include:
- thechesschannel - frequent rival, many epic battles. Mike Ellenbogen
- zumpili - a long series of games with mixed results. Dr. Norbert Barth
- lovelifebro, nederlaget1, meshter - part of the core rotation of opponents who have shaped Eric's online record. Matthieu Midonet nederlaget1 Meshter
Style quirks, psychology, and tips
- Average first capture arrives after move 6, so opening probes and preparation matter.
- Strong late-night performer by numbers, but also posts solid morning results. Best recorded time of day is around 06:00.
- Low early resignation rate means Eric fights on; expect endgame tests rather than quick surrenders.
- Advice for opponents: avoid obvious traps and be ready for long maneuvers - the game is rarely over at move 30.
Fun facts, sample game, and placeholders
- Nickname story: microbear - small but ferocious at the board, like a bear that prefers a pocket computer to a cave.
- Biggest streak: 30 wins in a row during an online surge.
- Sample quick opening to get a feel for Eric's style (play through this move sequence):
Interactive mini-game:
Charts and extra references for deeper scouting:
- Opening success visualization:
- Rating history snapshot (Bullet example):
Quick stats snapshot
- Title: National Master (National)
- Preferred time control: Daily
- Huge game volume across formats and a strong adjusted win rate in Daily play
- Top rivals and frequent opponents are listed above - check their profiles for matchups. Mike Ellenbogen
Want more? Search engine fans will find "Eric Hon chess", "microbear National Master", and "Eric Hon Daily chess" returns full logs and deeper analytics.