Mike Ruben: The Reluctant Chess Warrior
Meet Mike Ruben, also known in the chess kingdom as ruben3000, a player whose journey is as dynamic and unpredictable as a queen on the board! A connoisseur of the tactical arts, Mike’s style blends strategic endgame diligence with a dash of spirited resilience—a true chess cocktail.
Rating Rollercoaster
Mike’s peak ratings peeked around the 1044 mark in Blitz and Bullet formats back in 2020, with a rapid rating touch of 1163—a reminder that every grandmaster was once a budding pawn. His journey includes exciting peaks and a few valleys, with a lively preference for Bullet time controls where he truly shines. His pace? Lightning fast, but don't blink—he might just resign early if things look grim, only to bounce back with a comebacker’s spirit boasting an 85.8% comeback rate.
Playing Style: The Dance of Pawns and Pieces
- Early Resignation Rate: A modest 5.53%, proving that quitting is for weekend players... mostly.
- Endgame Enthusiast: Almost 65% of games reach the righteous battlefield of endgames.
- Average Moves per Game: Wins end around move 59, losses linger slightly longer at 62 — patience is a virtue, or stubbornness, you decide.
- Preferred First Capture Move: A sharp 6th move, because why wait?
- White vs Black Win Rates: A balanced duel — rocking 49.75% with white and holding 47.15% with black.
Psychological Insights
Mike’s tilt factor is a humble 16, which means when he's mad, it’s mostly about his coffee running out, not losing on the board. His prime time to seize victory? Bright and early at 7:00 AM — because checkmates taste better with sunrise coffee.
Opening Repertoire
Mike has a foot in both classical and unorthodox chess doors. The Van 't Kruijs Opening is his pièce de résistance, where he holds a slightly positive win rate of about 50% in Blitz and Bullet formats. He’s also a fan of the French Defense, crafting battles with knight and normal variations, and throwing in some Queen's Pawn and King's Pawn openings for good measure. His games hint at a fondness for strategic complexity and a readiness to tangle early.
Archives & Recent Games
When Mike isn’t plotting your downfall, he’s battling opponents across all time controls, most recently clinching victories on the live boards by winning on time—because sometimes, the clock is the deadliest weapon.
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.06.07"]
[Round "-"]
[White "ruben3000"]
[Black "SubhankarDuari"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "2kr4/1b3B2/1pp1pb2/p1q3p1/2P4p/1Q2P2P/PP1R1P2/2K4R b - - 1 23"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "A00"]
[UTCDate "2025.06.07"]
[UTCTime "06:53:45"]
[WhiteElo "553"]
[BlackElo "504"]
[TimeControl "60+1"]
[Termination "ruben3000 won on time"]
[StartTime "06:53:45"]
[EndDate "2025.06.07"]
[EndTime "06:56:12"]
1. e3 {[%clk 0:00:56.4]} 1... b6 {[%clk 0:01:00.9]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:00:56.6]} 2... Bb7 {[%clk 0:01:01.6]} 3. Bd2 {[%clk 0:00:56.4]} 3... e6 {[%clk 0:01:00.4]} 4. Bc3 {[%clk 0:00:55.7]} 4... Bd6 {[%clk 0:01:00.1]} 5. d5 {[%clk 0:00:55.9]} 5... Ne7 {[%clk 0:00:59.6]} 6. Bxg7 {[%clk 0:00:55.6]} 6... Rg8 {[%clk 0:00:57.7]} 7. Bf6 {[%clk 0:00:56]} 7... c6 {[%clk 0:00:54.1]} 8. c4 {[%clk 0:00:55.4]} 8... Na6 {[%clk 0:00:49]} 9. dxe6 {[%clk 0:00:54.7]} 9... dxe6 {[%clk 0:00:42.5]} 10. Bxe7 {[%clk 0:00:52.3]} 10... Qxe7 {[%clk 0:00:40.4]} 11. Nc3 {[%clk 0:00:49.7]} 11... O-O-O {[%clk 0:00:39.7]} 12. Ne4 {[%clk 0:00:48.5]} 12... Be5 {[%clk 0:00:29.8]} 13. Qb3 {[%clk 0:00:44.8]} 13... Nc5 {[%clk 0:00:16.7]} 14. Nxc5 {[%clk 0:00:43.7]} 14... Qxc5 {[%clk 0:00:16.6]} 15. Bd3 {[%clk 0:00:41.7]} 15... Rxg2 {[%clk 0:00:12.8]} 16. O-O-O {[%clk 0:00:40.9]} 16... Bf6 {[%clk 0:00:11.2]} 17. Nh3 {[%clk 0:00:40.1]} 17... h5 {[%clk 0:00:07.5]} 18. Rd2 {[%clk 0:00:35.6]} 18... h4 {[%clk 0:00:06.3]} 19. Nf4 {[%clk 0:00:33.8]} 19... Rg6 {[%clk 0:00:04.3]} 20. Nxg6 {[%clk 0:00:33.1]} 20... fxg6 {[%clk 0:00:05.1]} 21. h3 {[%clk 0:00:32.8]} 21... g5 {[%clk 0:00:03.9]} 22. Bg6 {[%clk 0:00:31.1]} 22... a5 {[%clk 0:00:03.1]} 23. Bf7 {[%clk 0:00:30.9]} 1-0
Trivia
- Mike’s longest winning streak is a staggering 12 games — just don't mention his record on Mondays.
- When losing a piece, this player manages to rally back with a nifty 46.32% win rate — like a phoenix rising from the ashes of a captured knight.
- Despite impressive resilience, Mike's most painful streak? A 16-game losing skid that would make any chess player contemplate restarting as a checkers champion.
- At 6:00-7:00 AM is when magic happens — the moment when brains seem to awaken with the caffeine.
- Choosing openings? If Mike Ruben were a restaurant chef, the Van 't Kruijs Opening would be the signature dish, served with a side of French Defense and a dash of Queens' Pawn.
In sum, Mike Ruben is not just a player, but a chess connoisseur who combines wit, strategy, and a good sprinkle of humor in every game. Whether he’s quietly plotting his next winning finesse or debating the merits of timely resignation, his games are always a spectacle to behold.
