Richard Bates IM

Richard Bates - International Master Extraordinaire

Richard Bates, known in the cyber chess realms as RichardABates, is no ordinary player. Holding the prestigious title of International Master from FIDE, Richard has carved out a legacy filled with tactical brilliance, thrilling come-from-behind victories, and a dash of humor on the chessboard.

Rating & Performance Highlights

Over the years, Richard's Blitz rating has danced impressively around the 2300 mark, recently climbing back up to a vibrant 2366 in 2024. His Bullet play, although less frequent, remains sharp with a max rating above 2200. If chess ratings were a rollercoaster, Richard's would definitely be one of the thrilling loops.

Style of Play

Ever the patient strategist, Richard plays an average of 61 moves to win and doesn’t shy away from the long haul, evidenced by a high 67.5% frequency of endgames. Early resignation? Almost unheard of, with an impressively low rate of 1.75% — he fights until the very last pawn. His white pieces are especially lucky, boasting a winning rate of over 73%.

Tactical Tenacity

Known for a nearly mythical comeback rate of 77.6%, Richard refuses to bow down after setbacks. Losing a piece? No worries — he manages to turn dire positions around with a perfect 100% win rate even after losing material. Opponents beware: this IM practically writes the book on resilience.

Winning Against the Odds (and Opponents)

With over 326 wins in Blitz alone and a top-secret opening repertoire yielding around 69% win rate, Richard is as unpredictable as they come. Some frequent foes like keitharkell proved tricky (22% success rate vs this adversary), while others barely stood a chance. Fun fact: he’s undefeated against nightwarlord, vadimshech, and a slew of others — 100% wins make for great bragging rights.

The Psychological Edge

Chess isn't just about pieces on a board for Richard — it’s a mental marathon. The Tilt Factor sits low at 5%, meaning he’s rarely rattled by tough games. His rated vs casual win difference of nearly 70% suggests Richard truly thrives when the stakes are high. So maybe don’t trash talk him over casual chess night.

When to Challenge Him

Want to catch Richard at his peak? Aim for game sessions around 10 AM or late evenings — his win rates soar up to a dazzling 82.6% and 87.5% respectively during these hours. Just be prepared: you might be signing up for a relentless fight lasting upwards of 60 moves.

Richard Bates: proving that with strategy, patience, and a playful spirit, you can not only survive the battlefield of 64 squares but thrive spectacularly.