Overview
Henk Schmitz (aka Surfsmurf) is a Dutch-minded speed chess machine who prefers his coffee strong and his time controls even shorter. Active online since about 2013, Henk built a reputation as a relentless blitz and bullet player with an appetite for sharp openings and long, grinding endgames. He is especially feared in the Sicilian and will often answer calm openings with unexpected spice.
Preferred time control: Bullet. Best time of day to catch him at his peak: around noon or late evening, depending on how many cups of coffee he has had.
Playing Style and Personality
Henk blends tactical alertness with surprising endurance. He tends to:
- Play long decisive games - average decisive game length is well above typical online blitz
- Fight hard in endgames - high endgame frequency and a low early resignation rate show he rarely gives up
- Mount comebacks - a strong comeback rate means he often turns lost positions into wins
If you catch him in a panic he may tilt briefly, but then he will return to the board with vindictive calm and a plan that involves queens, rooks, and mild profanity aimed at his mouse.
Openings and Repertoire
Henk has a wide and well-tested repertoire. He plays with confidence both as White and Black and has strong results in several systems:
- Signature weapon: Sicilian Defense - many games and a high win rate in blitz play
- Reliable choices: French Defense and Caro-Kann Defense for solid counterplay
- Likes to surprise opponents with offbeat lines like the Barnes Defense and various gambits
Against familiar opponents he mixes practical traps with long-term pressure rather than quick fireworks.
Notable Traits and Records
- Longest winning streak: 17 games
- Current winning streak: 7 games and counting
- Composure under pressure: very high comeback rate
- Most-played opponents include cararay, wyvill, and cruz29
- Peak moments include a top blitz showing in 2024 and a historic bullet peak back in 2015 (2233 (2015-03-10) and 2636 (2024-04-10))
Memorable Game (example)
Here is a short illustrative fragment to get a feel for Henk's approach - lively development followed by a patient squeeze. Replay it in your favorite viewer:
If you want to study a frequent rival, check out his many battles with Gerardo Cabellon.
Fun Facts and Extras
- Nickname inspiration: Surfsmurf suggests a love of surf, smurfs, or just surfing the 1 second increment pool
- Habitual late-night killer: win rates jump after 22:00 for mysterious reasons
- Prefers complicated middlegames that graduate into long endgames
- Quick snapshot of career trend:
Want to dig deeper into openings or trends? Use the chart above or tap into individual opponent pages. Henk is the sort of player who will make you laugh, make you cry, and then beat you on time with an endgame technique you did not know existed.