Natalia Poklonskaya

Natalia Poklonskaya - The Tactical Maestro of the Chessboard

Natalia Poklonskaya is not your average chess player; she's a whirlwind of strategy and stamina, a queen of both Blitz and Bullet formats, and occasionally a mysterious gladiator of Daily.

Since bursting onto the scene in 2014 with a Blitz rating of just over 1900, Natalia has consistently honed her skills, climbing to a peak Blitz rating exceeding 2200. Her Bullet games, although fewer, showcase a fierce and lightning-fast chess prowess with a maximum rating north of 2100. Don't expect to catch her daydreaming in Daily chess either—she's a quick learner who applies every move with care and precision!

Strengths & Style

• Comeback Queen: Natalia boasts an astonishing comeback rate of 82%, proving she's never out of the fight—even when down a piece, she somehow manages to turn the tables with a perfect 100% win rate after losing material.
• Endgame Enthusiast: With an endgame frequency of 75%, Natalia relishes the final battle, patiently outmaneuvering her opponents. Her games tend to go the distance, with wins averaging 65 moves and losses stretching to nearly 72.
• No Quitter: Early resignations are almost non-existent in her games, at just over half a percent—guess she believes every pawn has a chance to be a queen!

Opening Choices and Winning Rates

Natalia treats her openings like a culinary menu, plucking from a variety of chess delicacies and winning more than half the games in many of them:

• Sicilian Defense Four Knights Variation – 53.6% wins
• Old Benoni Defense – 52.2% wins
• Nimzowitsch Larsen Attack Modern & Indian Variations – around 52-70% wins (Bullet style magic!)

She’s quite the spicy Sicilian specialist and not afraid to mix things up with tricky Benonis and aggressive Larsen Attacks. When playing Bullet, her win rates skyrocket in these openings, sometimes beating opponents before they even have time to blink.

Famous Opponents & Records

Natalia has tangled with many chess warriors, some yielding a perfect 100% win rate (that's right, no mercy!) like jesenski55, elisafeng, and errmzn. Others have been less fortunate, with win rates as low as zero against cold_blad. Her longest winning streak reached a majestic 25 consecutive victories, though her current streak is cooling off—everyone deserves a break, after all.

When to Catch Her

If you want to challenge Natalia, try your luck on a Friday around 10 AM, when her win rates peak. But fair warning: she plays almost as well on weekends and at all hours—except between 6 and 7 AM. Maybe she needs her coffee first.

Fun Facts

• She prefers precise, long battles, with an unusually high number of moves per game.
• Her psychological tilt factor is low (15), meaning giving her a hard time will rarely throw her off!
• If she loses a piece, she doesn’t just survive—she wins every time. Talk about positive attitude!

In short, Natalia Poklonskaya is a chess juggernaut: well-rounded, resilient, and passionately tackling every game with style. Whether it’s a blitz battleground or a blistering bullet duel, she’s always a formidable opponent. So, keep your wits sharp and prepare for a strategic dance when facing Natalia—the queen who never bows!