Ahlam Makhlouf WFM

Hi Ahlam!

You are hovering around the 1550-blitz level (1617 (2022-08-04)), and the games in your recent streak show real progress. Let’s review where you shine and what to polish next.

What you already do well

• Initiative & tactics: Your most-recent win (see viewer below) shows a keen eye for dynamic play – e4–e5, ​Rxe5, and the mating net starting with 24.Rxf8+ were calculated confidently.
• Piece activity: You rarely leave pieces undeveloped. In many King’s Indian and Philidor structures you place knights on active squares and fianchetto the dark-squared bishop smoothly.
• Time usage: With 3 + 2 you seldom fall below 30 s until the late middlegame – that means you have spare clock to think in critical moments.

Opportunities for improvement

• Opening choice as Black vs 1.e4: In the loss to a_lejandr0_o you entered a risky sideline (…Bxb4) without clear compensation. Have a solid main line ready – for example the Two Knights with 4…Nf6 or the Giuoco Piano with early …Be7–d6.
• Pawn grabs vs development: Both in the loss and in earlier defeats you took loose pawns (Qxb4, Qxb7) and got caught in the crossfire. Before grabbing, run the “three-question drill”: 1) Are my pieces developed? 2) Is my king safe? 3) Can I retreat the queen?
• Endgame conversion: Some wins came from opponent disconnection/time. Let’s make technical endgames a strength so you can convert without relying on flags. Start with basic king-and-pawn vs king and the Lucena/Philidor rook endings.
• Tactical hygiene on the back rank: Several losses featured pins on the e-file or loose back-rank squares. Simple habit: when you move the f-pawn as Black, ask “Do I still cover f7, e6, and the back rank?”

Action plan for the next two weeks

1. 10 minutes of puzzles/day. Focus on tactics involving pins & double attacks (your most common miss).
2. Drill one solid Black line vs 1.e4. Example repertoire:
   • 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d3 Nf6 5.O-O d6.
   Play it in 10 practice games.
3. Endgame study. Finish the Beginner-to-Master Rook Endgames chapter (≈30 examples). Re-create critical positions against the computer.
4. Review every loss. Spend 5 min with the analysis board and write one sentence: “I lost because…”. This reflection will cut down repeat errors.

Illustrative games

Recent Win (White) – tactical domination

Recent Loss (Black) – pawn-grab backfires

Progress trackers

Keep an eye on when you win most often and schedule your sessions accordingly:

Final encouragement

You have the tactical flair to push toward 1700+. Combine that flair with a stable opening backbone and stronger endgame technique, and the rating gains will follow naturally. I look forward to your next set of games!