Adam Weissbarth NM

Constructive Feedback for Adam Weissbarth

Your long-term daily results (peaking at 2301 (2009-09-20)) and the quality of your wins against 2000+ opposition show a well-rounded, resilient player. Below you will find a concise review of your recent games, strengths to keep nurturing, and specific, actionable points that can help you move from “very strong” to “master-level” consistency.

Key Strengths

• Opening versatility: You comfortably switch between the Ruy Lopez Exchange (as in the win versus almolo) and sharper lines such as the Scandinavian & Alekhine. Your familiarity with multiple structures already gives you a practical edge.
• Endgame patience: In your latest victory over johntiessen you converted an extra pawn despite heavy-piece complications until move 68. That speaks to good technique and tenacity.
• Pressure management: Five of your last six wins came from positions where you kept the initiative until the opponent’s clock or position collapsed. You rarely panic when the evaluation swings slightly against you.

Areas for Improvement

• Pawn-structure awareness under tension
  Both recent losses against Kostas K. and Brian M. feature early …c5/e5 breaks that left weak backward pawns you could not repair. Try adding a quick “pawn-structure scan” to your candidate-move routine: ask “If I push this pawn, will it become a target next turn?”
• Defensive resource spotting
  In the Sicilian Canal loss you underestimated Black’s …Nc2! fork idea. Regular calculation drills with forced move puzzles (especially forks and zwischenzug motifs) will harden your defensive radar.
• King safety versus activity balance
  You often castle late (e.g. Alekhine Four-Pawns loss). While modern chess allows flexible king placement, delaying castling without a concrete reason invites tactics. A simple rule: if the centre is locked you may postpone castling; if the centre is open or opening, evacuate your king within 10 moves.
• Converting large advantages faster
  Some won positions took 60+ moves although a cleaner technical path existed. Study converting techniques such as “two weaknesses”, opposition & triangulation, and liquidation into winning pawn endings.

Opening Snapshot

Critical Moment Example

From the loss vs Kostas K. – a single missed tactic turned an equal game into material deficit. Replay the short fragment and visualise the resources for both sides:

Personalised Training Plan (Next 4–6 weeks)

1. 20-minute daily tactics sprint
   Focus on intermediate moves, defensive ideas, and “refutation calculation” (proving an opponent’s threat is harmless).
2. Weekly model-game study
   • Ruy Lopez: Karpov–Unzicker 1974
   • Alekhine: Vachier-Lagrave–Anand 2019
   Play through them, guess moves, and annotate your thoughts.
3. Endgame workout
   Solve 10 rook-and-pawn endgames from Averbakh’s manual or a modern equivalent each week. Aim to “win vs. tablebase” within ±0.20 accuracy.
4. Self-review discipline
   After every game, spend 15 minutes marking three good decisions and three avoidable mistakes. Store them in a private journal—patterns will emerge quickly.

Final Thoughts

You already possess master-candidate strengths in opening understanding and endgame resilience. By tightening defensive calculation and structural awareness you can realistically push another 100–150 Elo. Keep the curiosity alive, review your games honestly, and feel free to reach out for deeper opening files or sparring positions tailored to your repertoire.

Good luck, and enjoy the journey!