Aplommb CM

What you’re doing well

Your results show you handle solid, positionally sound systems well. In particular, you’ve had very strong performance with the London System setup (Poisoned Pawn Variation), which suggests you understand typical middlegame plans from that structure and can keep steady pressure while developing pieces calmly.

• You convert initiative from solid openings into concrete chances, especially when your pieces become active on open files and diagonals.
• Even in complex middlegames, you find ways to keep pieces coordinated and look for tactical opportunities when the opponent overextends.
• Your ability to stay with a plan in openings like the Slav-related lines shows you can maintain a coherent approach rather than drifting into unfocused complications.

What to improve

• Short-term consistency: the recent short-term trend suggests you’ve hit a rough patch. Use a focused post-game review routine to identify 2–3 recurring mistakes (for example, untimely material concessions, missed tactical shots, or poorly judged exchanges) and build targeted fixes.
• Endgame technique and conversion: several games moved into lengthier endings. Strengthen rook endings and king activity timing so you can convert small advantages into wins or hold draws when necessary.
• Opening preparation balance: your strong results in familiar lines are great. Consider adding a compact, reliable sub-repertoire for a few common defenses you face, with 2–3 main move orders and a simple plan after typical middlegame transpositions.
• Time management in rapid games: practice establishing a clear plan by the 15th move so you don’t drift into overlong middlegames. Build a habit of quick, high-quality first passes on the opening and then deepen selectively.
• Tactical pattern recognition: incorporate regular tactic drills to reduce missed tactical opportunities and to spot typical motifs (forks, pins, skewers) more quickly in dynamic positions.

Actionable plan to level up

• Endgame focus (2 weeks): practice rook endings, king and pawn endings, and basic fortress ideas. Do 15–20 minutes of endgame drills a few times this month and review any you misplay in games.
• Opening consolidation (2–4 weeks): keep London System (Poisoned Pawn) as a reliable choice, and add a compact Slav/Modern line if you face one frequently. Create a simple repertoire cheat sheet summarizing 6–8 key ideas for the middlegame after each main line.
• Tactics and patterns (ongoing): commit to 15 minutes of daily tactic practice focused on common middlegame motifs you encounter in your rapid games.
• Post-game analysis routine: after each rapid game, record 2–3 takeaways. If possible, annotate with a quick note showing the critical moment and your improvement plan.
• Time-management drill: designate a “planning phase” in each game (first 8–12 moves) and practice sticking to a time ceiling (e.g., 3–4 minutes for the opening, then reassess).

Starter study resources

• Endgame practice: Aplommb
• Endgame Training: Endgame Training
• Tactics Drills: Tactics Drills
• Opening Repertoire: Opening Repertoire

Recent game highlights (brief notes)

• Win summary: you navigated a sharp middlegame and pressed a decisive break; after a tense sequence, you reached a winning simplification. Next time, try to identify the exact moment you gain a clear material or positional edge and aim to liquidate into a clean endgame quickly.
• Loss summary: your opponent challenged your structure with a tactical shot; use this as a learning moment to recognize early signs of overextension and to seek simpler, safer plans when material balance is uncertain.
• Draw summary: you stayed active in the later phase and kept pressure, but review the moments where you could have traded more cleanly or kept the initiative longer without risking a repetition.

Notes on rating trends

Short-term trends show a dip in recent activity, while longer-term trends appear steadier. Use this as motivation to build steady, repeatable routines (opening prep, tactic practice, and post-game analysis) to restore momentum without overloading yourself. Small, consistent improvements add up over time.