Richelieu Salcedo III: The Unorthodox Blitz Alchemist
Richelieu Salcedo III, known online as rsalcedoiii, is a FIDE International Master with a serious love for fast chess. Blitz is his natural habitat, and his online journey proves it. He started near 1132 in 2012, then spent the next decade turning that modest number into a towering 2900 plus force. His current Blitz peak is 2936 (2026-09-05).
Salcedo is not a player who waits for the opponent to feel comfortable. His opening repertoire is a treasure chest of surprises, from the Amar Gambit to the Scandinavian Defense. As White he often reaches for the King's Indian Attack or the Hungarian Opening, and as Black he happily steers the game into the Scandinavian. The result is a playing style that keeps clocks ticking and opponents guessing.
From 1100 to Elite
Salcedo's rating graph reads like a rocket launch.
He crossed 2500 in 2017, pushed past 2600 in 2020, and reached a stunning 2936 Blitz peak in September 2026. His Bullet game also climbed to 2821, while his Rapid play settled in the 2200s. For a player who loves the fastest formats, he still shows deep endgame skills, with an endgame frequency near 84 percent and an average of more than 80 moves in his decisive games.
Rivalries and Recurring Foes
No biography of Salcedo would be complete without the players who shared the arena with him. Against kellydavid02, he has been almost untouchable, winning 20 of their 21 meetings. Against Rogelio Barcenilla, the series has been far more competitive, with Salcedo trading blows in a hard-fought rivalry. His most frequent dance partner is Lennon Hart Salgados, with 28 encounters that produced a balanced mix of wins, losses, and draws.
His longest winning streak is 13 games, and his current streak sits at 2. Even after losing a piece, he still wins more than half the time, which helps explain his reputation as a dangerous comeback artist.
Opening Laboratory
The Amar Gambit appears in over 200 Blitz games and more than 400 Bullet games, often with a winning percentage above 50. The Scandinavian Defense is his main answer to 1.e4, and he has scored over 55 percent with it in Blitz. He also enjoys the Czech Defense and the Döry Defense, proving that he is not afraid to leave the beaten path.
To get a feel for his approach, imagine a Scandinavian Defense unfolding in one of his Blitz games:
When the Clock Matters
Salcedo's stats suggest he is at his sharpest late at night. His best winning percentage by hour comes at 21:00, and his win rates on Friday and Sunday are also strong. He plays slightly better against higher-rated opposition than most players, and his tilt factor is low for someone who spends so much time in time scrambles.
Why He Matters
Richelieu Salcedo III is proof that online Blitz can be both a playground and a proving ground. He has turned unorthodox openings into a personal brand, built a massive database of games, and earned the International Master title while doing it. For fans of creative, fighting chess, rsalcedoiii is a must-watch.