Maksym Dubnevych, the “only_strong_moves” FIDE Master
Maksym Dubnevych, known online as only_strong_moves, is a FIDE Master whose chess career has been built around relentless online competition, tactical ambition, and a very serious relationship with the blitz clock. The name promises only strong moves, although every chess player knows that the occasional “creative” move is part of the package.
A Blitz Specialist with Serious Staying Power
Blitz is clearly Dubnevych’s preferred battlefield. The profile records more than 15,000 blitz games, along with over 7,000 wins and a peak blitz rating of 3079 in 2026. His bullet peak also passed 3000, reaching 3073, proving that his mouse-hand and calculation skills are both operating at tournament speed.
His improvement has been dramatic. From a blitz rating near 1100 in 2016, Dubnevych climbed through the 2000s, crossed 2500, and eventually joined the rarefied 3000-level online club.
Opening Identity
Dubnevych’s opening choices show a taste for practical, fighting positions rather than sleepy theory marathons. The Scandinavian Defense is his most successful major blitz opening, producing a 56.62% win rate across 634 games. The Amar Gambit is another recurring weapon, especially in bullet, where it delivered a 60.25% win rate across 888 games.
He also experiments widely, using the Amazon Attack, Caro-Kann Defense, Italian Game, and Sicilian Defense. In rapid chess, the Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon has been particularly effective, with a recorded 77.78% win rate.
- Blitz standout: Scandinavian Defense
- Bullet specialty: Amar Gambit
- Rapid success: Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
Style and Competitive Character
The numbers describe a player who is difficult to shake. Dubnevych has recorded a comeback rate of 88.79%, suggesting that losing a piece is treated less like a tragedy and more like an invitation to make the position complicated. His longest winning streak reached 21 games, while his games average more than 80 moves, so “quick chess” does not always mean a quick finish.
Dubnevych is also most successful around 05:00, according to the profile. Whether that reflects peak preparation, heroic insomnia, or simply the mysterious power of pre-dawn tactics remains for the chess world to investigate.
Legacy in Progress
With a FIDE Master title, elite online blitz and bullet peaks, and a constantly evolving opening repertoire, Maksym Dubnevych has developed into a formidable digital-era chess competitor. The player behind “only_strong_moves” combines volume, resilience, and tactical energy, making every game feel like it might turn into a miniature tournament.