Alexandra Martínez WFM

Hi Alexandra!

Great job keeping your Blitz rating above 2200 and scoring an impressive +7 =0 -3 in your last 10 games. Below is a snapshot of your recent form:

What you’re doing well

• Dynamic counter-punching with Black. Your Budapest Gambit (A51) and Taimanov Sicilian score consistently. In the win against NavyPier1 you equalised quickly, grabbed the initiative and never let go. The sequence 12…O-O! followed by 14…Bb4+ and 17…Rc2 showed good tactical alertness.
• Piece activity over material. You’re comfortable giving a pawn to seize open files (…Rc8, …Rc2, …Rg6, etc.). That willingness is a real strength; keep nurturing it.
• Pressure on the clock. Five of your last seven wins came with your opponent low on time. Your habit of maintaining a small time edge is working—just make sure it doesn’t tempt you into superficial moves when winning positions need accuracy.

Biggest improvement areas

1. White-side gambits need a safety net.
   Three of your last four losses as White came from the Danish/Smith-Morra style setups. After the early pawn sacrifice you often:
   • castle late (e.g. vs hengky_1981 you stayed with your king in the centre while Black hit you with …Nc4/…Ne3).
   • allow counter-gambits without a concrete follow-up (32…Nxb3!! in the same game).
   Suggestion: Pick one main line you trust (e.g. 6.d4 against the Sicilian) and study 15-20 model games. Treat the ultra-sharp gambits as surprise weapons rather than your default choice.
2. Tactical blunders on the 20-30 move horizon.
   In several losses a single missed intermediate move turned the game (24…Ne3 vs Hengky, 26…Ne2+ vs almeshry2024). These happen after the opening but before time-scramble.
   Training plan:
   • 3×3m calculation drill daily (no board, verbalise candidate moves and refutations).
   • 60 tactical puzzles/week with a focus on “between moves” (zwischenzug) themes.
3. Endgame conversion efficiency.
   Your Budapest win needed 58 moves and a flag, even though the queen+rook ending was technically winning long before. Practise technique in:
   • R+P vs R (side pawns!)
   • Queen vs pawn on 7th
   Faster conversions will save both rating points and energy.
4. Time-management balance.
   You create time pressure well but occasionally spend too long in quiet positions then blitz during tactics (see 34.Re4? in your loss to almeshry2024). Aim for the reverse: quick in the simple moves, slow in the critical ones.

Opening clinic snapshot

Here’s the critical middlegame moment from your recent Budapest victory. Black to move found the thematic break …f5! exploiting the pin on g4.

Quick wins to add this week

• Analyse every loss for 10 minutes immediately after the game—fresh memory catches the “why” behind blunders.
• Create a mini-repertoire file for e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 with engine notes; revisit it before each session.
• Play two 15 | 10 games/week to practise deeper calculation under less clock pressure.

Tracking your progress

Keep an eye on your peak ratings: 2235 (2020-06-14)   2260 (2025-06-09). Updating these every fortnight will show whether the new study plan is converting to rating gains.

Good luck, and feel free to send me any tricky positions you encounter. Happy calculating!