Hi Bill, here’s your personalised post-match report
1. Opening Repertoire
- As White: 1.b3 appears in almost every game. You know the main ideas (Bb2, Bb5, pawn storm g4-h4), but opponents at your level are beginning to pre-prepare. Add a secondary weapon (e.g. 1.Nf3 or 1.d4) so you can reach the Larsen set-ups by transposition rather than telegraphing them on move 1.
- Timing of pawn storms: Several losses (e.g. vs Szymix3) show g-/h-pawns advancing before your king is fully safe. Aim to castle, connect rooks and only then launch the wing attack.
2. Black Choices
- Dutch structures give you dynamic chances, but the dark-square weaknesses are a recurring target. In the loss vs Ercae11 you played …f6, …f5 and …e5 within the first 11 moves, leaving e6/g6 soft. Study model games with …d6–e5 setups that keep the f-pawn at home longer.
- Philidor vs e4: the game against marco_borges shows the danger of mixing …f5 and …b5. After 14.h3 Bd7? you slipped into passivity. Consider the more thematic break …d5 or the manoeuvre …Kh7 …g6 first.
3. Tactical Profile
Strengths: you spot attacking sacrifices (Rxh7+, Bxg7+, g-pawn pushes) quickly.
Weaknesses: counter-tactics in the centre. In the loss vs Ercae11 the shot 19.Bxe4! exploited your queen on f6 and loose f-pawn.
Action item: 15 min/day of defensive puzzles (2400-2600 rating) where the task is “find the opponent’s idea” before moving.
4. Time Management
Your 3-minute games usually reach move 30 with >40 s on your clock—excellent pace. Nevertheless, some critical decisions (e.g. 16…e4 vs Ercae11, played in 6 s) deserved a brief pause. Treat moves where the pawn structure changes as mandatory think time.
5. Endgame Technique
You rarely reach deep endings because your games are decided tactically, but the win vs pb3203 showed solid R+B vs R+N technique. Keep polishing rook endings; they will decide more games as opposition improves.
6. Sample Review Positions
Critical moment vs marco_borges – Philidor gone wrong:
Try setting this up on a board and finding an improved plan after White’s 15.Ra6.
7. Training Plan
- Week 1: Work through “Typical Dutch Structures” (chapter 3 of Kindermann’s book). Pay special attention to piece placement after …e6 …d5.
- Week 2: Introduce a backup white opening (Catalan-lite: 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3). Play 20 blitz games and compare the resulting middlegames to your usual Larsen setups.
- Ongoing: 20 mixed puzzles/day; annotate one loss every evening, focusing on the first move you would change.
8. Quick Stats & Trends
Peak blitz rating: 2350 (2022-07-19)
Activity chart:
9. Key Concepts to Review
initiative, tempo, outpost and when an aggressive pawn storm turns into an over-extension.
Keep the pieces coordinated, vary your openings just a little, and your next rating jump should follow soon.