ALEJANDRO NEEDLEMAN IM

Hi Alejandro!

Your recent games show an energetic, initiative-driven style that already brought you to 2626 (2021-07-17). Below you will find an objective summary of what is working well and a few concrete, high-impact tweaks that can lift you to the next level.

What’s working

• Fast development & castling: Every win in the sample begins with you completing development and securing your king before move 10. Keep that discipline!
• Piece activity: Positions such as 26.Qg7# in the win vs. masteringchessdra show that you rarely miss a chance to bring all your pieces to the attack.
• Converting extra material: In technical wins (e.g. vs. Ignacio Fernandez Mazzetti) you simplified smoothly and avoided counterplay—excellent endgame instincts.

Key growth areas

1. Pawn pushes on the kingside
   • Loss vs. levente_k shows g-pawn + h-pawn advances left dark squares (g3–f4–e5) weak.
   → Before pushing flank pawns, ask “Which squares become weak if this pawn can’t come back?” (prophylactic checklist).
2. Handling dynamic gambits as Black
   • In the Benko loss to Savas Marin Stoica you accepted material but fell behind in development.
   • Study typical Benko ideas: …a6-a5 break, pressure on the a1–h8 diagonal, and the exchange-up endgames Black often steers for.
   → Create a mini-repertoire file with 3–4 tabiyas and common resource moves; drill them with spaced-repetition flashcards.
3. Time management in sharp positions
   • Several defeats occur around move 25–35 with <15 s on your clock.
   → Adopt a “no-think zone” of 15–20 s per move until move 20; bank the extra minute for the critical middlegame.
4. End-game calculation
   • The Ruy Lopez loss vs. maciejpodgorski1998 featured rook activity you underestimated.
   → Weekly drill: convert four rook-endgame studies (especially active rook behind passed pawn themes).

Opening snapshot

Training plan (4-week micro-cycle)

• Week 1: 30 tactical motifs per day (especially forks & zwischenzugs); annotate the loss to levente_k without engines.
• Week 2: Build your Benko Black file; watch two model games by Vachier-Lagrave on the white side to understand what to avoid.
• Week 3: Endgame Sunday—solve 10 rook-and-pawn studies; play 10 5 | 5 endgames starting from equal rook endings vs. computer.
• Week 4: Practice “slow-fast” time control (15 | 10) focusing on not dropping below 60 s before move 30.

Game of the month to revisit

Study the attack in your latest win—look for improvements for the opponent to future-proof your repertoire.

Progress monitoring

• Track your results with these live views:

Quick mental checklist (stick next to your monitor)

• “What changed?” after every forcing move (captures, checks, pawn pushes).
• “Which of my pieces is worst? Improve or trade it.”
• “If I move this pawn, which square becomes weak?”
• 30-second rule: if I’m under 30 s, play safe/solid unless I see a forced win.

Keep up the great work and stay curious. One disciplined month and 2500 is within reach!