Nicholas Howard-Jennings

Nicholas Howard-Jennings (aka TikkunOlam38)

Meet Nicholas Howard-Jennings — a chess enthusiast whose game ebbs and flows as unpredictably as a roller coaster on a windy day. Known online as TikkunOlam38, Nicholas has navigated the rapid chess arena with a record that’s as colorful as his choice of username suggests.

Chess Journey & Style

Since 2023, Nicholas’s rapid rating has danced between a humble 214 and a proud peak of 684 in December 2024. His chess style is a curious blend of cautious pondering and bold strikes—evident in his relatively long average games: 44 moves to victory, and 46 moves before defeat. Notably, his knack for comebacks boasts an impressive 74.6% success rate, proving that even when he loses a piece, he’s far from out of the game.

His famous “early resignation” tendency clocks in at just 9.23%, meaning he’s normally one to stick things out—though occasionally even Nicholas knows when to call it quits (gracefully, of course!).

Victories, Defeats, and the Learning Curve

With a nearly even rapid career record of 63 wins, 65 losses, and a couple of draws, Nicholas embodies the true spirit of the game: persistence. He’s battled opponents repeatedly, maintaining a perfect 100% win rate over many (osm_a98, abdallahothman2004, among others), while still wrestling with rivalries he’s yet to best (looking at you, moaroi and jed63).

Favorite Openings & Quirks

Most of Nicholas’s games revolve around his “Top Secret” opening repertoire—which some speculate might just be “experts-only,” because opponents are left mystified after playing 128 games! His win rate here hovers just below 50%, hinting that while Nicholas loves experimenting, the game is rarely predictable when he’s at the board.

For all openings known and unknown, he’s proven his mettle in the Queen’s Pawn Opening Chigorin Irish Gambit, where his latest win on April 16, 2025, saw a dazzling attack resulting in a resignation from his opponent. Checkmate or resignation—Nicholas has claimed both as tactical triumphs.

When to Catch Him Online

You’ll find Nicholas in his prime form early in the day, especially around 8 AM — a time when his win rate shoots to a stellar 100% in some hours. Mondays seem to be his lucky day with nearly a 70% success rate, while Tuesdays might cause a few puzzles to crack, achieving only about 9% wins.

Chess & Chuckles

Despite a tilt factor of 10 (a polite way of saying he sometimes lets frustration peek through), Nicholas’s tenacity never wavers. His longest winning streak clocks in at 10 games—so watch out when he’s on a hot streak! Conversely, his longest losing streak is an equal number: 10 games. Makes one wonder if Nicholas’s motto might be, “What goes up must come down... then explode back up again!”

Whether you know him as Nicholas or TikkunOlam38, one thing’s clear: he’s a player who embraces the beautiful chaos of chess, never afraid to try new moves and tactics. So here’s to Nicholas Howard-Jennings — a chess warrior with a curious mind, a fighting heart, and a delightful sense of unpredictability.

Keep an eye on this spot; who knows what brilliant gambit or hilarious blunder he’ll toss next!