Why do you think some variants have much higher records than others?

Hello everyone!
I wanted to start a community discussion on why some variants have much lower records than others. In bullet, the highest recorded rating is 3605 as of Oct-2026. But I don't think anyone can get even closer to it in variants like antichess, KotH, crazy house, horde, etc having just about 2400-2600.
So what is your opinion on this matter?
Do you think it's because of the pool of players being less or because people hardly ever try!?

Hello everyone! I wanted to start a community discussion on why some variants have much lower records than others. In bullet, the highest recorded rating is 3605 as of Oct-2026. But I don't think anyone can get even closer to it in variants like antichess, KotH, crazy house, horde, etc having just about 2400-2600. So what is your opinion on this matter? Do you think it's because of the pool of players being less or because people hardly ever try!?

Kaan_Burak

@smaha123 said ^

Hello everyone!
I wanted to start a community discussion on why some variants have much lower records than others. In bullet, the highest recorded rating is 3605 as of Oct-2026. But I don't think anyone can get even closer to it in variants like antichess, KotH, crazy house, horde, etc having just about 2400-2600.
So what is your opinion on this matter?
Do you think it's because of the pool of pla...

First, bullet is a time control, not a variant. So more people play it.
And, bullet is easy. You only have to play fast and with sense.
But, KOTH or Antichess is not that easy, it has tactics. In Bullet, play fast and you have a chance to win. But in variants, if you ONLY play fast, the chance is so low to win. So you gain more rating in Bullet.

@smaha123 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/GJQcma1S) > Hello everyone! > I wanted to start a community discussion on why some variants have much lower records than others. In bullet, the highest recorded rating is 3605 as of Oct-2026. But I don't think anyone can get even closer to it in variants like antichess, KotH, crazy house, horde, etc having just about 2400-2600. > So what is your opinion on this matter? > Do you think it's because of the pool of pla... First, bullet is a time control, not a variant. So more people play it. And, bullet is easy. You only have to play fast and with sense. But, KOTH or Antichess is not that easy, it has tactics. In Bullet, play fast and you have a chance to win. But in variants, if you ONLY play fast, the chance is so low to win. So you gain more rating in Bullet.

smaha123

@Kaan_Burak, I understand your point of view,
But think of it like this, What if your opponent too finds bullet easy?, and what if EVERYONE feels that bullet is easy!? Doesn't your opponent have a chance too if he/she plays fast!?
If many people play a variant/time-control just because its easy, its easy for everyone and MANY people play it.
Isn't that supposed to create MORE competition?
That's not all...
In variants like KOTH or crazy house, if you find it hard, why won't your opponent find it hard? That creates equal opportunities right!?
And one more thing... If you open a new account, your bullet rating is 800? (provisional) but your other variants start from 1500?(provisional). But still bullet rating records are far higher than others...
So what do you think about that chat?

@Kaan_Burak, I understand your point of view, But think of it like this, What if your opponent too finds bullet easy?, and what if EVERYONE feels that bullet is easy!? Doesn't your opponent have a chance too if he/she plays fast!? If many people play a variant/time-control just because its easy, its easy for everyone and MANY people play it. Isn't that supposed to create MORE competition? That's not all... In variants like KOTH or crazy house, if you find it hard, why won't your opponent find it hard? That creates equal opportunities right!? And one more thing... If you open a new account, your bullet rating is 800? (provisional) but your other variants start from 1500?(provisional). But still bullet rating records are far higher than others... So what do you think about that chat?

Kaan_Burak

edited

"and what if EVERYONE feels that bullet is easy!? Doesn't your opponent have a chance too if he/she plays fast!?"

Yes, look, Bullet wants speed more than tactics. Everyone can feel it easy. And I didn't say "They don't have a chance if they only play fast". I said "they have a low chance" because you can't chess without playing sensible moves.

"If many people play a variant/time-control just because its easy, its easy for everyone and MANY people play it.
Isn't that supposed to create MORE competition?"

Yeah, that's what happens about Bullet.

"In variants like KOTH or crazy house, if you find it hard, why won't your opponent find it hard? That creates equal opportunities right!?"

Yes, equal oppurtunity, when your opponent find it hard, it is. But it's not an equal oppurtunity in a match which is "900, 10 games played" vs "2100, 1500 games played".

"If you open a new account, your bullet rating is 800? (provisional) but your other variants start from 1500?(provisional). But still bullet rating records are far higher than others..."

Your Bullet rating starts with 1500? when you open a new account.
And, you can see many players playing Blitz, Rapid or Bullet but you can't see players playing KOTH, Antichess or Atomic that much (except Variant Shields).

"and what if EVERYONE feels that bullet is easy!? Doesn't your opponent have a chance too if he/she plays fast!?" Yes, look, Bullet wants speed more than tactics. Everyone can feel it easy. And I didn't say "They don't have a chance if they only play fast". I said "they have a low chance" because you can't chess without playing sensible moves. "If many people play a variant/time-control just because its easy, its easy for everyone and MANY people play it. Isn't that supposed to create MORE competition?" Yeah, that's what happens about Bullet. "In variants like KOTH or crazy house, if you find it hard, why won't your opponent find it hard? That creates equal opportunities right!?" Yes, equal oppurtunity, when your opponent find it hard, it is. But it's not an equal oppurtunity in a match which is "900, 10 games played" vs "2100, 1500 games played". "If you open a new account, your bullet rating is 800? (provisional) but your other variants start from 1500?(provisional). But still bullet rating records are far higher than others..." Your Bullet rating starts with 1500? when you open a new account. And, you can see many players playing Blitz, Rapid or Bullet but you can't see players playing KOTH, Antichess or Atomic that much (except Variant Shields).