Annapoorni Meiyappan WFM

Hi Annapoorni Meiyappan!

Great work on your recent games – they reveal an adventurous style and growing tactical vision. Below is targeted, constructive feedback to help you convert more of those attacking ideas into consistent wins.

What you’re already doing well

• Active piece play out of the opening. In several French-/Scandinavian-type positions you quickly mobilise pieces and seize open files.
• Tactical alertness. Your win vs. 2324rp shows you spotting Bxf7+! and a series of zwischenzugs that forced resignation.
• Comfort in dynamic pawn structures. You willingly push pawns (g- and h-pawns in particular) to unbalance quiet positions – a valuable skill once paired with prudent king safety.

Key improvement themes

1. King safety & prophylaxis.
   • Your losses often begin with an over-extended kingside (e.g. g-pawn pushes in the odds Caro-Kann and several Scandinavian defeats).
   • Before launching pawns, ask “If my attack stalls, which squares around my king become weak?” Get in the habit of one prophylactic move (h3, Kh1, a3) before a full assault.
2. Converting extra material.
   When you are up a pawn or exchange, avoid “still looking for a knockout.” Simplify into won endings. Try the rule of thumb: When ahead, trade pieces (not pawns); when behind, trade pawns (not pieces).
3. Endgame technique.
   Several games reach rook-and-pawn endings where a technical slip costs you.
   • Drill the "Lucena" and "Philidor" rook endings 10 times each this week.
   • Practise king activity – in rapid time-controls queens often get traded suddenly; be ready!
4. Opening depth vs. width.
   You play many systems: French, Scandinavian, Caro-Kann, Sicilian, Pirc… That’s excellent exploration, but pick one main repertoire for each colour and study typical middlegameThe stage after development where plans and pawn structure matter. plans. Knowing plans beats knowing moves.
5. Time management.
   Blitz clocks show you dipping below 1 min while still in a sharp middlegame. Try a “1-2-3” rhythm:
   • <1 s: obvious recaptures/checks
   • <2 s: quiet developing moves
   • 3-5 s: every non-forcing move (blunder-check)
   This alone will save 10-20 s per critical moment.

Illustrative examples

Your attacking strength

Notice how every piece joined the party before you opened lines with g4. Recreate that model when attacking.

A cautionary loss

Here, after winning a pawn (26…Rxc2+), black’s connected rooks & passer decided the game. The takeaway: once the queens are off, centralise the king; don’t allow the opponent to coordinate heavy pieces on the 2nd/7th ranks.

Action plan for the next two weeks

• Every day: 20 tactical puzzles filtered for “intermediate difficulty forks & discovered attacks.”
• Alternate days: play one 15 + 10 rapid game solely focusing on time-management rhythm. Review without engine for 5 min, then with engine.
• Openings: choose either the [French Tarrasch] or [Caro-Kann Classical] as main defence to 1.e4 this fortnight and study two model games per day.
• Endgame: finish the “100 Endgames You Must Know” chapters on rook vs. rook + pawn endings (chapters 53-60).

Motivation corner

Your current peak ratings: Blitz 1780 (2019-09-18), Rapid 2008 (2022-06-16). Set a micro-goal of +50 elo in either time-class by focusing on the single weakness you deem most urgent from the list above. Improvement compounds quickly once effort is focused!

Keep up the energetic, creative chess, Annapoorni. Refine the defensive foundations and the results – and rating – will follow.