Alec Andersen NM

Overview of Recent Performance

Alec, you've maintained a steady and positive trajectory in your blitz games, with your rating increasing by 2 points over the past month and an overall improvement of 326 points in the last 6 months. Your strength-adjusted win rate of approximately 51% indicates solid play against similarly rated opponents. The upward slopes in your rating trends further confirm consistent progress.

What You're Doing Well

• Opening Preparation: Your handling of the Sicilian Defense, including Chekhover and Scheveningen variations, shows good familiarity and success. For example, you won a sharp game using the Sicilian Defense - Chekhover Variation where you effectively countered early queen activity and capitalized tactically.
• Endgame Technique: In your wins, especially in Chess960 and standard setups, you demonstrated strong technique converting slight advantages into checkmates or winning positions.
• Positional Play: Your games reveal good understanding of pawn structures and piece coordination, using strategic manoeuvres before launching attacks.
• Time Management: You generally manage clock time well, avoiding significant time trouble.

Areas for Improvement

• Handling Tactical Pressure: In some losses, opponents exploited tactical motifs involving pins and forks, for example in the Pirc Defense and Queen’s Gambit Accepted lines. Improving calculation under pressure will help reduce these errors.
• Opening Variety and Flexibility: While your main openings are solid, adding variety, especially in the Queen’s Pawn and English openings, could make your play less predictable and open new winning chances.
• Defending Under Attack: Several losses showed exposure to attacks on your king side or weaknesses on light/dark squares. Working on defensive technique in dynamic positions will enhance your resilience.
• Closing Critical Games: A few losses ended with resignations following small inaccuracies. Focus on maintaining concentration and exploring drawing or counter chances even in tough positions.
• Time Pressure Decisions: While your time management is good, in a few matches time pressure affected your decision quality. Practicing quick evaluation and honing intuition can help here.

Recommended Focus For Upcoming Training

• Study key tactical themes such as pins, forks, discovered attacks - try solving timed puzzles to simulate blitz conditions.
• Expand your opening repertoire especially with 1.d4 systems, and experiment with flexible move orders.
• Review annotated games featuring solid defensive technique to improve your reaction to attacks.
• Practice endgame positions to reinforce ability to convert advantages smoothly, including in Chess960 setups.
• Play training blitz games focusing on maintaining calm and accuracy under time pressure.

Additional Resources

Consider revisiting some of your wins to reinforce the strategies that worked well. For example, the game with Vladimir Predein where you won by checkmate showcases excellent attack coordination and endgame technique.

Your use of the Sicilian Defense in the Chekhover Variation is a strength. Keep building on that foundation.

Summary

Alec, your consistent upward rating trend and solid win rate are very encouraging. By focusing on tactical alertness, defensive skills, and expanding your opening knowledge, you can convert more games into wins and improve your overall blitz performance.

Keep up the good work—and remember, each game is an opportunity to learn and grow!