Timothy G. Brown NM

Overview of your recent blitz play

You recently finished a blitz game with a decisive mating attack, which shows you can fight for a win and coordinate your pieces when the position is sharp. In another recent game, you faced a tough tactical sequence that ended in a loss, highlighting the pressure blitz games place on quick decision making and king safety. A careful balance between sharp attacks and solid defense will help you convert more of these dynamics into wins.

What you are doing well

• You maintain dynamic pressure and look for forcing moves when the opponent’s king or key pieces are exposed.
• You convert complex middlegame tension into tangible results, often finishing with a clear tactical plan.
• You show willingness to seize initiative, even in less familiar or sharp structures, which is a strong trait in blitz.

Areas to improve

• Clock management: in blitz, try to identify critical moments quickly and avoid spending too long on non-critical moves. Develop a quick filtering method for candidate moves.
• King safety and structural awareness: some losses came from overextending or missing latent threats. Build a habit of checking for immediate tactical threats before committing to aggressive plans.
• Endgame technique: strengthen the ability to convert advantages in rook and minor piece endgames, especially when the opponent has counterplay or resourceful defense.
• Pattern recognition: broaden your quick recognition of common tactical motifs (forks, pins, skewers, back-rank ideas) so you spot them faster under time pressure.
• Blitz opening clarity: pick a small set of reliable lines you know well and study typical middlegame plans from those lines, so you can reach comfortable positions faster.

Opening handling and study plan

Your recent openings show you enter several sharp, tactical battles. In blitz, consider narrowing your opening repertoire to two or three trusted setups you understand deeply. For example, if you often encounter the Sicilian, practice a specific, solid line and its main middlegame plans so you can reach practical positions quickly. Build a quick-reference checklist for each line with: main plan, typical pawn breaks, and common tactical ideas your opponent might pursue. Regular review of your opening choices against strong responses will help reduce early mistakes and keep you in the game longer.

Endgame and conversion plan

• After simplifying, aim to keep active king and rooks, especially when passed pawns exist.
• Practice a few common rook-and-pawn endings, focusing on creating passed pawns and using the king actively.
• When you have an initiative, convert with precise forcing moves rather than speculative pawn pushes.

Training plan and next steps

• Daily tactics: solve 15–20 puzzles focused on motifs like forks, pins, skewers, and back-rank ideas.
• Weekly game review: pick 2–3 recent blitz games, identify the top 2 mistakes, and outline exact alternative moves that would have been better.
• Openings: choose 2 lines to specialize in for the next two weeks and practice common middlegame plans from those lines.
• Endgames: spend 2 sessions weekly on simple rook endings and king activity practice with practical exercises.

Optional training prompts

If you’d like, I can generate a focused practice puzzle or a short drill tailored to a recent pattern you struggle with. For example, a quick drill could be: