Anastasia Dubnikova WFM

Hi Anastasia!

You are playing dynamic, fighting chess and your results show you can outplay strong 2400–2500 opposition. Below is some targeted, constructive feedback based on your latest games.

1. Openings

• With White: Your Old-Benoni set-ups (1.d4 c5 2.d5 …) score well, but many games reach unfamiliar middle-game structures quickly. Create a mini-repertoire file with 5–6 critical tabiya positions and a single plan for each so you can play faster.
• With Black: The Sicilian mix (Alapin, French & Benoni branches) shows flexibility, yet the game against Tran Khanh Phuong Vo, 11 years old revealed hesitation versus the Alapin. Spend one session on the typical …d5 breaks and the …e6/ …b6 set-up so 12…Rc8–18…bxc5 ideas come naturally.
• Try adding a solid “rest day” option (e.g., Caro-Kann or Queen’s Gambit Declined) for when you feel tired; this often improves overall match stamina.

2. Time Management

Four of the last six decisive results (two wins & two losses) ended on time. Adopt a simple rule:

“Be below the move number on the clock until move 20.”

This means you should still have >40 s on move 40 in 1-minute increment games. Practice increment drills: play bots where you must move in <2 s every turn—great for automatising easy replies.

3. Critical Middlegame Themes

1. Passed-pawn races. Your win vs David George Samir showed perfect c-pawn management.
   Key idea: blockade breakers 49.c4–61.c7 were unstoppable.
2. Weak back rank & piece coordination. The loss to RAT EXPERT collapsed after 16…d4 opened the position while your pieces were undeveloped. Before pawn breaks, ask the “Pieces behind or ahead of the pawn?” question.
3. Piece activity vs material. In several Sicilians you kept an extra pawn but let the opponent’s pieces swarm. Try setting a rule: if up material, trade one set of minor pieces or queens within five moves, unless it worsens your king safety.

4. Endgame Technique

You handle rook endings confidently when active, but passive defences need work (see the game versus pepe where you allowed …Rc2+). Spend 15 minutes daily on the “building a bridge” and Philidor/Lucena rook-endgame drills.

5. Tactical Awareness

Two recent tactics to reinforce:

• Avoiding the fork trick & the zwischenzug.
• Recognising Nb5! leaps (as in your loss vs Ken_2014) that overload a defender.

Set Chess.com puzzles to “Themes: Zwischenzug & Fork” for 100 problems this week.

6. Highlight Clip

Your accurate conversion in the win against David_George21:

7. Training Plan (2-week microcycle)

8. Motivation Corner

Your current peak ratings: Rapid 2364 (2020-12-04), Blitz 2503 (2024-01-16).
Keep an eye on these milestones and celebrate each 50-point jump.

9. Performance Snapshots

When you feel stuck, glance at your trends:

Final Thought

You already demonstrate strong tactical vision and a willingness to fight in sharp positions. Sharpen the time-management habit and solidify a few critical endgame techniques, and you will break through your current ceiling quickly.

Good luck, enjoy the journey, and feel free to send over any game you’d like me to annotate in depth!