Players
Irina Krush
Photo: Yunfan Zhao
GM

Irina Krush

United StatesBorn 1983 (age 43)FIDE ID 2012782

Luft classical

23002400250026002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2412
FIDE

FIDE classical

2300240025002600201620182020202220242026
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2415
Luft

Flair

Irina Krush's classical flairs

0 of 19 earned over the last 12 months

  • TitanLuft classical rating averaging 2800+ over the last 4 years
  • Serial WinnerWon 2+ elite events in the last 12 months
  • UnderdogRegularly beats players rated 50+ higher
  • Fortress25+ games in a row without a loss
  • Black BeltDoes better with black than with white
  • IronmanPlayed 50+ games over the last 12 months
  • RisingAged 18 or under, Luft rating up 40+ over the last 12 months
  • Endgame SpecialistEndgame 90+: converting, saving and not throwing endgames
  • TacticianTactics 90+: sharp, tactical games they made sharp
  • LightningTop 20 at speed chess (mostly blitz, some rapid)
  • Hot StreakAt least 6 points from 7 straight games against strong opposition
  • SignatureSticks to one defence with black far more than most
  • ChameleonPlays a wide range of defences with black
  • WildcardBrilliant one event, off the next: hard to predict
  • ReliableConsistent across all top events
  • FighterRarely draws, and wins far more than they lose
  • AdaptableTactics and Positional both 90+
  • PositionalPositional 90+: slow, quiet games they steered
  • PodiumTop 3 in at least half of their elite events

No classical flair in the last year yet.

Trophy cabinet

Irina Krush's classical titles

6 classical titles, 5 medals, newest first

  • Women's Chess Olympiad 2024Bronze, team · United States
  • US Championship 20201st
  • Women's Chess Olympiad 2018Silver, board 2 · United States
  • US Championship 20151st
  • US Championship 20141st
  • Women's World Team Championship 2013Gold, board 2 · United States
  • US Championship 20131st
  • US Championship 20101st
  • Women's Chess Olympiad 2008Bronze, team · United States
  • Women's Chess Olympiad 2004Silver, team · United States
  • US Championship 19981st
  • US Championship×6

Attributes

Tactics 75Positional 68Endgame 65Openings 71Composure 71Defence 72Speed 55Consistency 58

Luft classical rating

2412No. 386

From 26 classical games in top events over the last year, playing at a 2445 level.

ResultsPlayed at a 2445 level, blended with their FIDE rating+4
Tournament winsNone in the last year0
FormThe last 3 months against the whole year+1
ConsistencyHow steady they are from event to event−7
Activity26 classical games in top events−1

Openings

Their most-played, from 41 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
English Opening967%
Nimzo-Indian Defense275%
King's Indian Defense1100%
King's Indian Attack1100%
Queen's Gambit Declined150%

English Opening

With White: 9 games, won 4, drew 4, lost 1 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Agincourt Defense683%
Anglo-Indian Defense150%
Symmetrical Variation150%
King's English Variation10%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With White: 2 games, won 1, drew 1, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Variation1100%
Normal Variation150%

King's Indian Defense

With White: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Petrosian Variation1100%

King's Indian Attack

With White: 1 game, won 1, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
Spassky Variation1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 1 game, won 0, drew 1, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 11 games, won 6, drew 2, lost 3 · 64%

VariationGamesScore
Alapin Variation225%
O'Kelly Variation1100%
Kan Variation1100%
Closed1100%
Czerniak Attack1100%
Grand Prix Attack1100%
French Variation1100%
Delayed Alapin Variation150%
Richter-Rauzer Variation10%
Four Knights Variation10%

Queen's Gambit Accepted

With Black: 4 games, won 0, drew 3, lost 1 · 38%

VariationGamesScore
Classical Defense333%
Main line150%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With Black: 2 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 0 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Vienna Variation150%
Main line150%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 1, drew 0, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation1100%
Three Knights Variation10%

English Opening

With Black: 2 games, won 0, drew 0, lost 2 · 0%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation20%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
2026 Mona Karff Memorial Marshall Chess Club Championship7 Nov 2026½/1−2−2
U.S. Chess Championships 202621 Oct 20263rd+11+35
46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 202627 Sep 20265½/9−16−9
American Cup 20265 Mar 20262/4−2−3
FIDE World Team Championship 202521 Nov 20252/4−1−2

Best wins

OpponentRating
IMC. Yip16 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20262484
IMA. Lee19 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20262467
IMLu Miaoyi6 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252449
IMO. Kiolbasa9 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252405
IMI. Bulmaga12 Sep 2025 · FIDE Grand Swiss 20252400

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
IMC. YipLast 16 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20263102
WIMR. LiLast 9 Oct 2026 · U.S. Chess Championships 20263102
IMP. ShuvalovaLast 6 Aug 2023 · FIDE World Cup 20232011
GME. DanielianLast 24 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262002
IMV. AgrawalLast 21 Sep 2026 · 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad Samarkand 20262002

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How attributes are calculated

From their games in top events over the last 12 months, each judged against the opponent's rating

  • TacticsHow well they score in sharp games they chose to make sharp.
  • PositionalHow well they score in quiet, manoeuvring games they steered.
  • EndgameHow they do in endgames against what the position promised when it began: converting a winning one earns a little, saving a losing one earns a lot, and throwing a winning one costs a lot.
  • OpeningsThe engine's verdict on their position around moves 15 to 20, against what's normal for that colour, as the score it points to. Over the last 4 years, with older games counting less.
  • ComposureHow well they score under pressure: the game straight after a loss, and the last 3 games of an event while they can still win it. Over the last 4 years.
  • DefenceHow they do in games where they were 0.8 pawns or more worse after move 18, against what that position usually scores: holding the draw earns, turning it around earns more, and losing costs a little.
  • SpeedTheir Luft rapid and blitz ratings. With neither, an estimate a little below their classical level.
  • ConsistencyTheir Luft rating, less their off days: tournaments (5+ games each) over the last 4 years where they played 50+ below it. Anything better never counts against them.

  • "How well they score" is a performance rating: the opponent's rating, plus 400 for a win and minus 400 for a loss, averaged. So it's always judged against who they played.

    The score out of 100: 80 is a 2600 level, and each 13 rating points adds one, so 2860 and up is 100.

    Fair to everyone: with only a few games of a kind, the result leans towards their overall Luft rating. Strengths and weaknesses are measured against their overall level and compared with the top 100, so a specialist's best side stands out. A little recent form is added to all but Speed.