Alexander Zhurikhin FM

Hi Alexander (Alzhur)!

You are already a strong rapid player (current peak: 2208 (2023-06-19)), and your games show an energetic, initiative-oriented style. Below are some observations drawn from your most recent sessions, followed by an action plan to help you climb to the next band.

What you’re doing well

• Initiative-First Mind-set. In wins such as vs nechkinsa (Giuoco Pianissimo) you constantly posed problems and converted the extra activity into tactics like 22.f4! and 26.Qxf6.
• Tactical Vision. Your mating combinations (e.g. 29.Bh7+!! followed by 32.Qxf7#) show that you are comfortable spotting multi-move forcing lines.
• Time Management. You usually keep a ≥3-minute reserve, so “blitzing” at critical moments is not costing you games.

Main improvement themes

1. Pawn-Storm Discipline
   • In the Vienna loss to babyshka_boy you launched 14.f4, 15.g4, 17.g5 & 20.h4 before completing development.
   • Black’s simple …b5–b4 created a counter-hook and your king became the target.
   Rule of thumb: storm only after your king is safe and the centre is closed. Re-watch the critical phase:
   .
2. Central Squares vs. Knights
   • Twice this week opponents used …Nd4 (vs Vienna) or …Nf4 (Alekhine endgame) to seize dark-square outposts.
   • Your pieces were forced into passive squares and pawns became targets.
   Training tip: add 20 puzzles tagged “outpost” & “knight” to your daily routine and study the model game Capablanca–Yates 1930 (prophylaxis against …Nd4).
3. Endgame Technique
   • In the Alekhine Defence game you reached a rook + minor-piece endgame that was objectively equal, but drifted after 31…Rb8.
   • Missed chances: 38…Rxd6! simplifying; 49…Nc2+? allowed White’s a-pawn to queen.
   Action: 15 minutes/day on rook-and-pawn basics (Philidor, Lucena) and practise conversion vs. Stockfish level 5 from the diagram below.
   

Opening micro-targets for the next 30 games

Measured goals

• Reduce games lost to players <200 elo below you to ≤10 % (current sample: 40 %).
• Score ≥80 % in “easy” tactics (rating ≤2100) with < 30 s per puzzle.
• Track progress with
  and
  .

Next steps

1. Re-play each loss once with an engine, once without. Note first moment evaluation swung by >1.5.
2. Create a mini repertoire file; add one comment per move explaining its purpose.
3. Schedule a training game vs. a 2200-2300 sparring partner each week and annotate together.

Stay disciplined with your pawn structure and you should break 2300 soon. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!