Andrew Liu NM

Feedback for Andrew Liu

Andrew, you have shown creativity and solid understanding in your recent games, especially using flexible openings like the Reti and the King's Indian Attack. Your consistent development and kingside fianchetto setups put pressure on your opponents and open up dynamic attacking possibilities.

Strengths

• Opening Preparation: Your choice of hypermodern openings and willingness to challenge your opponents with flank control is excellent. This approach has given you good middlegame chances as seen in multiple games.
• Aggression and Initiative: Moves like h4, h5, and thrusts in the center demonstrate that you are looking to take the initiative early, which often led to favorable attacking positions.
• Accurate Calculation in Tactics: You successfully executed tactical sequences to convert advantages, such as winning material and delivering checkmate efficiently.

Areas to Improve

• Handling Counterplay: In some losses, particularly against well-prepared opponents, there were moments where pressure against your central control or kingside could have been met with more caution or prophylactic moves. Consider bolstering your position against counterattacks, especially when advancing pawns aggressively.
• Time Management: There was a noticeable drop in your clock time during critical stages which might cause rushed decisions. Developing a practice routine to manage your clock better during complex positions will help avoid time trouble and blunders.
• Endgame Technique: While you often reach endgames with active pieces, refining technique in converting slight advantages — especially in rook and minor piece endgames — will boost your winning chances.

Specific Opening Suggestion

You frequently employ the Reti Opening and King's Indian Attack, which suits your strategic style well. To deepen your edge, focus on understanding common pawn breaks and typical tactical motifs in these openings. Use the theory behind these lines to counter opponents’ plans proactively.

Next Steps

1. Review your recent decisive losses and identify critical moments where alternative plans could maintain better balance.
2. Practice visualization and calculation drills to sharpen tactical alertness in complicated positions.
3. Study endgame principles with focus on rook and bishop/knight endgames for better technique under pressure.

Keep building on your solid opening repertoire and continue to cultivate your attacking instincts. With improved time management and endgame skills, your play can become even more consistent and formidable.