Avatar of Strowbear

Strowbear

Playing Since: 2018-05-11 (Active)

Wow Factor: ♟♟♟♟♟

Chess.com

Daily: 1688
79W / 3L / 3D
Rapid: 2335
465W / 245L / 75D
Blitz: 2335
1503W / 1004L / 237D
Bullet: 2079
606W / 440L / 94D

Strowbear: The Chess Channel’s Strategic Streamer

Meet Strowbear, a relentless bullet chess battler and streaming sensation whose rating climbs higher than just about anyone who’s tried escaping a pinned king! Bursting onto the scene in 2018 with a modest bullet rating around 989, Strowbear’s tenacity and craftiness saw them rocket to a peak bullet rating of 2242 by 2022—a rating solid enough to make grandmasters nod in respectful approval (or at least raise an eyebrow).

Not one to shy away from speed, Strowbear’s blitz and rapid performances are equally impressive: hitting a blistering 2361 in blitz as recently as September 2024 and peaking at a phenomenal 2433 in rapid earlier that same year. The numbers don’t lie—this streamer knows how to turn time pressure into an art form.

Their playing style? Well, it’s a curious blend of endurance and flair. Strowbear’s games tend to stretch out, with an average of nearly 73 moves per win and even longer in losses, proving they’re no quitter. Early resignation is almost a foreign concept, clocking in at under 1%, despite a tilt factor of 9 (hey, even chess warriors have their off days!). Exceptionally skilled in the endgame—77% frequency—these are the moments when Strowbear’s strategic genius really shines.

Opening Repertoire: From Pirc to Sicilian with a Splash of Indian Game

Versatility is the name of the game for Strowbear. Whether it’s the resilient Pirc Defense boasting a ~70% win rate in bullet or the sharp Sicilian Defense variations that cut through the chaos with ~78% success, their opening repertoire keeps opponents guessing. A special shoutout to their Indian Game, which boasts a staggering 84% win rate in bullet—because why choose one perfect move, when you can confuse your opponent with many?

Streamer Vibes

When not tearing through chess.com leaderboards, Strowbear entertains an audience hungry for epic comebacks and tactical fireworks. Known for an impressive 79.5% comeback rate, losses often transform into opportunities—because for this streamer, surrender is just another spell check error waiting to be fixed.

Latest Battles

Fresh off a victorious streak, Strowbear recently triumphed against Vivaldi1988 in a tense bullet duel using the Closed Sicilian Defense, winning on time thanks to both nerves and a swift Rook invasion. A prior game showcased a classic checkmate against LiquidTomato, proving checkmates aren’t just ancient chess tales but live-streamed art pieces.

We all know winning is sweet, but losing is also part of the journey. Even Strowbear fell to the hands of ponary in a brutal Scandinavian Defense battle, reminding us that even the best have their moments of humility.

Fun Fact

The best time to catch Strowbear in action? While most are asleep! They hit peak performance at the mysterious hour of 4:00 AM, dishing out chess wisdom and rapid-fire moves when the world is silent. Possibly fueled by caffeine, possibly by sheer love of the game (or maybe both).

Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned player, Strowbear’s stream offers a mix of high-level chess, entertaining banter, and the occasional hopeful rescue move. Tune in for checkmates, blunders, and everything in between – because chess is as much about fun as it is about winning.

Stay sharp, stay curious, and maybe try not to get blitzed by Strowbear!


Coach Chesswick's Profile Photo
Coach Chesswick

What you're doing well

You consistently pursue active, tactical play in blitz, especially when the position opens up. In several wins, you’ve driven the game with bold pawn advances and quick piece coordination to create concrete threats against the enemy king. Your willingness to initiate dynamic attacks shows good appetite for sharp positions, which suits blitz well when you spot tactical motifs early.

  • You often generate initiative by challenging the center and king side with timely pawn pushes, which can create practical chances even in imperfect positions.
  • You manage to seize initiative and convert pressure into material gains and attacking chances when your pieces harmonize and the lines open up.
  • Your willingness to explore multiple opening ideas (for example, strong results in open, tactical openings) helps you stay unpredictable and steer the game toward favorable complications.

Opening performance insights

Your blitz results show solid to strong performance in several open and tactical openings. The Scotch Game and Scandinavian Defense stand out as consistent options that lead to dynamic, attack-oriented positions where your tactical eye can shine. The Czech Defense also shows promise, indicating you’re comfortable with flexible, semi-closed structures.

  • Consider leaning more on the Scotch Game and Scandinavian when you want to keep lines open and force concrete tactical decisions, which fit blitz nicely.
  • Continue to develop a concise, reliable plan for your top-repertoire lines, so you don’t get stuck in unfamiliar middlegame structures if your opponent deviates.
  • Reserve some practice time for a “safe before sharp” rule: in a new opening, aim for a solid first 10 moves and only pivot to aggressive plans when you have clear space or a direct tactical chance.

Patterns to watch in blitz

From your recent games, a few recurring themes can be noticed. You often create pressure with quick piece activity on open files or diagonals, and you occasionally overcommit to aggressive pushes before your pieces are fully coordinated. This can backfire if your attack loses momentum or your king safety is compromised.

  • Before pushing the kingside pawn storm, ensure rooks and minor pieces have solid squares to operate from and your king has enough shelter.
  • Be mindful of leaving back-rank or loose pieces in the heat of the attack; double-check key tactical shots to avoid giving your opponent an easy counterplay or a forcing sequence.
  • When you sense a simplification leads to a worse endgame for you, look for a forcing line or a safer simplification that preserves practical chances.

Areas to improve

  • Time management: in blitz, aim to keep a stable pace in the early middlegame. If you’re spending too long on a single move, practice a quick, safe development plan and use a few predictable ideas you’re comfortable with in each opening.
  • Endgame conversion: work on common rook and minor-piece endings so you can convert advantages cleanly when the board tightens or when material becomes imbalanced.
  • Blunder prevention: in sharp lines, use a quick “check safety” habit—scan for immediate tactics your opponent might have and verify that your last move doesn’t drop a piece or overlook a counterattack.
  • Pattern recognition: reinforce typical middlegame plans for your top openings so you can transition from the opening to a clear, coherent middlegame strategy rather than improvising under time pressure.

Practical training plan (next 4 weeks)

  • Opening repertoire polish: Pick your top 2-3 openings (e.g., Scotch Game, Scandinavian, and Czech Defense) and create a compact, move-by-move plan for the first 12 moves. Review typical middlegame ideas and common traps in these lines.
  • Blitz puzzle routine: Do 15–20 short tactical puzzles per day focusing on patterns that appear in your games (forks, skewers, discovered attacks, back-rank motifs). This will improve your ability to spot tactics quickly.
  • Endgame drills: Practice rook endings and basic king-and-pawn endings twice a week so you can convert endgames more reliably under time pressure.
  • Time-management drills: Use a consistent blitz clock and set a target pace (e.g., no more than 2 minutes for the first 15 moves in games rated under 5 minutes). Review any games where you fell behind on clock to identify speed-ups or bottlenecks.
  • Post-game reflections: After each blitz session, write a 3-point action plan for what to repeat and what to change in your next 3 games.

Next steps

If you’d like, I can tailor a focused 2-week or 4-week plan based on your preferred openings and typical blitz time controls. You can also share a recent game you want feedback on, and I’ll break down the key turning points and provide concrete, move-by-move improvements.



🆚 Opponent Insights

Most Played Opponents
alphatou 121W / 28L / 21D View Games
commandosausage 111W / 6L / 4D View Games
malice31 64W / 10L / 8D View Games
troyesd3 49W / 5L / 5D View Games
malaekyl87 56W / 1L / 1D View Games

Rating

Year Bullet Blitz Rapid Daily
2025 2079 2335 2342
2024 2105 2346 2342 1688
2023 2222 2247 2369 1675
2022 2242 2204 2205 1670
2021 2234 2212 2182 1733
2020 2202 2194 2028 1759
2019 2000 2002 1267
2018 1799 1407
Rating by Year2018201920202021202220232024202523691267YearRatingBulletBlitzRapidDaily

Stats by Year

Year White Black Moves
2025 8W / 1L / 0D 4W / 2L / 0D 73.7
2024 103W / 42L / 9D 81W / 64L / 10D 80.9
2023 60W / 13L / 4D 58W / 15L / 13D 72.3
2022 226W / 103L / 21D 212W / 107L / 21D 74.3
2021 967W / 240L / 98D 930W / 270L / 90D 75.7
2020 889W / 429L / 107D 795W / 498L / 122D 81.3
2019 196W / 125L / 20D 195W / 119L / 27D 82.8
2018 67W / 38L / 5D 66W / 41L / 4D 75.4

Openings: Most Played

Rapid Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Scotch Game 84 64 13 7 76.2%
Sicilian Defense 63 41 16 6 65.1%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 61 36 22 3 59.0%
Czech Defense 47 33 12 2 70.2%
Amazon Attack 45 30 10 5 66.7%
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 43 26 11 6 60.5%
French Defense 36 28 4 4 77.8%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 35 27 6 2 77.1%
Scandinavian Defense 33 22 10 1 66.7%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 27 19 8 0 70.4%
Bullet Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Czech Defense 442 313 101 28 70.8%
Scandinavian Defense 174 124 39 11 71.3%
Amar Gambit 141 99 30 12 70.2%
French Defense 134 85 35 14 63.4%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 124 82 37 5 66.1%
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 77 52 22 3 67.5%
Sicilian Defense 77 54 21 2 70.1%
Barnes Defense 76 53 19 4 69.7%
Scotch Game 76 56 17 3 73.7%
Caro-Kann Defense 59 38 17 4 64.4%
Blitz Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Czech Defense 261 169 78 14 64.8%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 257 137 105 15 53.3%
Scotch Game 203 143 44 16 70.4%
Scandinavian Defense 189 128 40 21 67.7%
French Defense 174 101 59 14 58.0%
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation 173 101 61 11 58.4%
Sicilian Defense 166 103 53 10 62.0%
Caro-Kann Defense 111 68 27 16 61.3%
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Exchange Variation 106 66 28 12 62.3%
Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit 97 59 33 5 60.8%
Daily Opening Games Wins Losses Draws Win Rate
Amazon Attack 10 8 0 2 80.0%
Sicilian Defense 9 9 0 0 100.0%
Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack 8 7 1 0 87.5%
Scotch Game 8 6 2 0 75.0%
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 5 5 0 0 100.0%
Sicilian Defense: Closed 5 4 0 1 80.0%
Czech Defense 5 5 0 0 100.0%
Blackburne Shilling Gambit 4 4 0 0 100.0%
Amar Gambit 4 4 0 0 100.0%
Caro-Kann Defense 3 3 0 0 100.0%

🔥 Streaks

Streak Longest Current
Winning 40 1
Losing 9 0
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