Yannick Kambrath: The International Master of Rapid Moves and Tactical Comebacks
Meet Yannick Kambrath, a formidable International Master (IM) who dances on the 64 squares with a blend of strategy, speed, and a pinch of cheeky brilliance. Known in the chess world as ykam78, Yannick has made a name for themselves through relentless blitz duels and bullet battles that would leave even a caffeine-fueled grandmaster breathless.
Rating & Ranking Highlights
- Blitz: Peaked impressively at a rating of 2735 in 2022, with a consistent average hovering around 2600 over recent years.
- Bullet: Yannick's bullet rating rockets up to 2749 in 2022, showcasing lightning-fast decisions and nerves of steel.
- Rapid: Though less frequent in rapid games, Yannick still clocks a solid max rating of 2530 and a fighting spirit.
- Daily Chess: Occasionally dips toes in daily chess waters — because even IMs need to unwind with a leisurely game.
Playing Style & Strengths
Yannick is no quitter, with a remarkable comeback rate of nearly 90% and an almost superheroic win rate of 97.27% after losing a piece. Forsaking early surrender, Yannick’s reputation for resilience and deep tactical awareness is backed by an endgame frequency exceeding 80%. Average games unfold over about 80 moves, reflecting a penchant for both slow-burning strategic finesse and explosive finale fireworks.
Psychological & Tactical Tendencies
With a tilt factor of only 13 (because even robots have feelings), Yannick manages to keep cool under pressure. Their psyche favors measured battles over impulse decisions, balancing between creative flair and calculated control. That said, there’s still room for human moments—as the “Rated Vs Casual Win Difference” hints at a playful challenge they sometimes face outside rated confines.
Record & Rivals
A master of blitz and bullet duels, Yannick boasts thousands of games with impressive win/loss/draw records:
- Blitz: 4,735 wins, 3,741 losses, 679 draws
- Bullet: 5,238 wins, 4,383 losses, 665 draws
- Rapid: Smaller battlefield, but still fiercely competitive with 11 wins.
- Daily: Not one to shy away, with 2 wins in 2 games.
Yannick's best (and sometimes worst) opponents read like a colorful gallery of usernames: from 'danieltorpedo' to 'demonicmaroonalpaca' — but those who dare face ykam78 browse at their peril, as the win rates against some foes hover close to perfection or intriguing rivalries emerge.
Fun Facts & Quirks
Top Secret opening? Yannick plays it like they're part of a chess ninja clan, keeping opponents guessing (and sometimes guessing wrong!). Along with a longest winning streak of 27 games, this mastery surely earns them a spot on the “chess cool kids” leaderboard.
And between the hours of midnight and dawn, Yannick’s win rate doesn't just stay strong—it soars above 54%! Clearly, the night is young for this chess magician.
In Summary
Yannick Kambrath is not just a player but a chess athlete who combines patience, precision, and panache. Whether racing through bullet rounds or scheming long endgames, IM Yannick proves chess is not just a game—it’s an art form punctuated by bursts of tactical theatrics and strategic serenity. Expect thrills, spills, and a dash of humor from this chess stalwart as they continue their quest on the global stage.
Hi Yannick, here’s some targeted feedback to help you break through the 2500-barrier.
1. Snapshot
Current form: strong 2400-2500 blitz performer, excellent tactical eye, but several recent time-pressure losses keep the rating oscillating.
Peak blitz rating: 2735 (2022-09-19) – aim to add ~50 elo by tightening a few recurring issues.
2. What you already do well
- Dynamic openings: Your 6.h4 Najdorf and 4…Nf6 English lines create rich fights and suit your style.
- Tactical alertness: In the win vs
spartancarl81you spotted 37.Nxh6+! in <30 s and converted the initiative. - Resourcefulness: You often swindle equal or worse positions by keeping pieces active and playing quickly when ahead on the clock.
3. Biggest rating drains & how to fix them
3.1 Clock management – your #1 leak
Five of your last seven losses were on time, all in playable positions. In the Taimanov game vs KyronGriffith you burned >5 min between moves 11-18 calculating a direct kill. The attack fizzled and you flagged in a still unclear position:
- Adopt a “30-second rule”: if you spend 30″ and the line isn’t forced, make a solid move and keep time for later.
- Use increment consciously: with +2 you need ≈8 s/move to stay above 20 s. Train Bullet with +1 to internalise this rhythm.
- End every opening prep with a pre-move map: write down typical middlegame plans so you can play them instantly rather than calculating from scratch.
3.2 Risky king exposure in the Sicilian (Black)
In several Taimanov & Classical games you push …g5/…h5 before securing e6–d6 squares. White’s pieces flood in and you’re forced to burn time finding only moves. Example critical fragment (loss vs Leebit02):
- Study recent GM Taimanov games where Black delays …g5 and instead plays …h6/…g6 setups.
- Memorise the critical
d5-breakidea; if it isn’t possible, rethink the pawn storm. - Run engine sparring: start from move 10 of your loss and let Stockfish show safer restructuring plans.
3.3 Conversion & Endgame technique
Against CarlssonLudvig you won a pawn but later allowed opposite-colored bishop activity and resigned in a drawn bishop ending. Similar slips occur when you’re already low on time.
- 10-minute endgame workout each day: pick one rook or bishop ending and play vs engine until you win/draw.
- Always ask: “What’s my nearest passed pawn? Can I create an outside passer before grabbing more material?”
- Add a
pre-endgame scan: consolidate king + pawns for 2 moves before going pawn hunting.
4. Opening menu – quick tweaks
| Line | Keep / Fix | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Najdorf 6.h4 (White) | KEEP | Add 12.g4 anti-…d5 line to avoid heavy theory. |
| Sicilian Taimanov (Black) | FIX | Test 7…Qc7 & …Nf6 plans; postpone …g5. |
| Four Knights Scotch (Black) | RETHINK | Switch to Petroff or 3…d6 to reduce early simplifications where White keeps small plus. |
5. Weekly training blueprint (≈5 h)
- 2 h: Structured Blitz sets – 3 games with self-commentary right after each (max 5 min review).
- 1 h: Endgame drill – rook + pawn vs rook, B&N mate, Lucena Position.
- 1 h: Opening refresh – update your Taimanov file, add two model games.
- 30 min: Tactics streak – stop after 3 mistakes, review motifs (especially clearance and zwischenzug).
- 30 min: Physical breaks; play one blitz session standing to build faster decision stamina.
6. Motivation corner
You’re already beating IM-level opposition regularly. Plugging the time-pressure leak alone is worth ~30-40 rating points; safer Sicilian structures can add the rest. Keep your dynamic style—just give it the clock it deserves!
Good luck, and see you above 2500 soon!
🆚 Opponent Insights
| Recent Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Paul Rohwer | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| Teodor-Cosmin Nedelcu | 0W / 2L / 0D | View |
| Wei Xuan Timothy Chan | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| Димитрий Король | 4W / 2L / 0D | View |
| pepechess12 | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| Elis Denele Dicen | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| gryffindorac8 | 1W / 0L / 0D | View |
| Haowen Xue | 4W / 3L / 0D | View |
| Esteban Horacio Deichmann | 0W / 1L / 0D | View |
| mitul | 1W / 0L / 0D | View |
| Most Played Opponents | ||
|---|---|---|
| vass774 | 167W / 38L / 11D | View Games |
| Leo Bispo | 36W / 32L / 8D | View Games |
| white31 | 36W / 32L / 2D | View Games |
| yoolund | 23W / 33L / 4D | View Games |
| TwentyHoursADay | 16W / 41L / 1D | View Games |
Rating
| Year | Bullet | Blitz | Rapid | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2510 | 2517 | 2388 | |
| 2024 | 2400 | 2502 | ||
| 2023 | 2400 | 2531 | 584 | |
| 2022 | 2545 | 2583 | ||
| 2021 | 2550 | 2546 | 2451 | |
| 2020 | 2591 | 2615 | ||
| 2019 | 2379 | 2468 | 2325 | |
| 2018 | 2380 | 2473 | 800 | |
| 2017 | 2416 | 2372 | 2357 | 800 |
| 2016 | 2334 | |||
| 2012 | 1584 |
Stats by Year
| Year | White | Black | Moves |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 121W / 128L / 13D | 114W / 130L / 23D | 84.0 |
| 2024 | 12W / 2L / 1D | 9W / 13L / 1D | 64.7 |
| 2023 | 128W / 110L / 22D | 108W / 118L / 24D | 87.6 |
| 2022 | 917W / 639L / 128D | 798W / 739L / 127D | 86.8 |
| 2021 | 317W / 243L / 42D | 309W / 276L / 34D | 85.5 |
| 2020 | 1053W / 727L / 117D | 938W / 826L / 153D | 76.6 |
| 2019 | 938W / 695L / 116D | 878W / 753L / 125D | 83.3 |
| 2018 | 934W / 705L / 95D | 831W / 764L / 123D | 83.4 |
| 2017 | 826W / 627L / 102D | 732W / 712L / 98D | 85.8 |
| 2016 | 46W / 16L / 7D | 48W / 18L / 5D | 83.9 |
| 2012 | 3W / 2L / 0D | 3W / 0L / 0D | 48.6 |
Openings: Most Played
| Bullet Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amar Gambit | 547 | 281 | 232 | 34 | 51.4% |
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 446 | 223 | 196 | 27 | 50.0% |
| Australian Defense | 386 | 219 | 142 | 25 | 56.7% |
| Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted | 356 | 174 | 162 | 20 | 48.9% |
| Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation | 347 | 174 | 150 | 23 | 50.1% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 341 | 168 | 138 | 35 | 49.3% |
| Caro-Kann Defense | 331 | 164 | 137 | 30 | 49.5% |
| Amazon Attack | 316 | 176 | 127 | 13 | 55.7% |
| Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack | 254 | 134 | 105 | 15 | 52.8% |
| Scandinavian Defense | 249 | 132 | 104 | 13 | 53.0% |
| Blitz Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 404 | 275 | 125 | 4 | 68.1% |
| Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack | 243 | 123 | 98 | 22 | 50.6% |
| Nimzo-Larsen Attack | 233 | 118 | 97 | 18 | 50.6% |
| Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation | 223 | 101 | 109 | 13 | 45.3% |
| QGD: 3.Nc3 Bb4 | 211 | 108 | 85 | 18 | 51.2% |
| Amazon Attack | 206 | 100 | 89 | 17 | 48.5% |
| English Opening: Agincourt Defense | 183 | 92 | 78 | 13 | 50.3% |
| Amar Gambit | 177 | 110 | 56 | 11 | 62.1% |
| Diemer-Duhm Gambit (DDG): 4...f5 | 170 | 92 | 69 | 9 | 54.1% |
| London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation | 166 | 74 | 81 | 11 | 44.6% |
| Rapid Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gruenfeld: 5.e3 O-O | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60.0% |
| Döry Defense | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.7% |
| Amar Gambit | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.0% |
| QGD: 3.Nc3 Bb4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Unknown | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.0% |
| QGD: Orthodox Defence | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Diemer-Duhm Gambit (DDG): 4...f5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.0% |
| QGD: 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Amazon Attack | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Daily Opening | Games | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackburne Shilling Gambit | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Caro-Kann Defense: Panov Attack | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% |
🔥 Streaks
| Streak | Longest | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Winning | 27 | 0 |
| Losing | 13 | 3 |