Bas van de Plassche, also known as pogiRules
Bas van de Plassche is a prolific online chess player whose account, pogiRules, has spent years turning the chessboard into a very busy laboratory. With a clear preference for blitz, Bas has played more than 28,000 recorded games, making “just one quick game” a particularly ambitious promise.
A Blitz Specialist with Staying Power
Bas’s chess story stretches from 2016 through 2026, with blitz serving as the main stage. The record shows a durable competitor who keeps returning for another battle, another experiment, and presumably another opportunity to discover that the clock was not, in fact, being generous.
Across blitz, Bas has recorded 15,580 wins, 11,637 losses, and 1,678 draws. The numbers suggest an energetic, competitive style rather than a player interested in quietly shuffling pieces until everyone agrees to go home.
Opening Repertoire
Bas frequently enters sharp and flexible positions. The Sicilian Defense is a major feature of the repertoire, especially in the Classical, Closed, Alapin, and Richter-Rauzer variations. The Sicilian Defense has produced particularly strong results in blitz, with the broad opening record showing a win rate above 57 percent.
With the white pieces, Bas often begins with d4, favoring strategic systems such as the Queen’s Pawn Game, the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the King’s Indian Defense structures, and the Benoni. In faster games, the Queen's Indian Defense has also been a standout choice, producing an impressive rapid-game record.
- Sicilian Defense: a principal weapon against 1.e4.
- Benoni Defense: a recurring choice for dynamic, unbalanced positions.
- Queen’s Gambit Declined: a reliable foundation when Bas wants central control with a side order of long-term pressure.
Playing Style
Statistics point to a player who is comfortable in extended battles. Bas’s games reach the endgame frequently, and the average decisive game lasts around 68 moves. That is a strong hint that the plan is rarely “win quickly and disappear.” Instead, Bas often keeps applying pressure until the position, the opponent, or the clock finally gives way.
The profile also shows a notable comeback rate and a willingness to continue fighting after losing material. In other words, a dropped piece is treated less like a tragedy and more like an invitation to make the game dramatically inconvenient for everyone involved.
Notable Rivalries
Among Bas’s most frequently faced opponents is gaddamer, encountered in 108 games. Bas’s record in that matchup is 71 wins, 32 losses, and 5 draws. That is enough games for a rivalry to develop its own opening book, folklore, and probably at least one position both players insist was “completely winning.”
Read more about the opponent here: Tom Borvander.
Enduring Competitive Spirit
From long blitz sessions to occasional rapid and daily games, Bas van de Plassche has built a chess identity around volume, resilience, and a taste for complex positions. The username pogiRules may sound playful, but the statistics describe a serious competitor who is happy to fight for every square, every tempo, and every last second on the clock.