Anselm Wagner FM

What went well in your bullet games

You showed strong tactical energy and a willingness to press for the win in fast time controls. In the recent decisive games, you demonstrated sharp attacking ideas and the ability to convert pressure into concrete advantages, including clean finishes in some complex lines. Your willingness to simplify when a clear path appears is a good habit for bullet where quick decisions matter.

Key areas to improve

• Time management under pressure: bullet games reward quick, disciplined decisions. Work on making solid first moves and avoiding overthinking, especially in the initial middlegame phase.
• Consistent opening setup: refine a small, reliable opening repertoire so you start with clear plans rather than guessing. This reduces early tension and buys you time later.
• Endgame conversion and simplification: practice converting advantages into a win, and know when to simplify to a bishop vs knight or rook endgame. This helps you lock in wins in close positions.
• Threat and counterthreat recognition: in fast games, quickly scan for your opponent’s tactics after every move and choose replies that neutralize their ideas while keeping your plan intact.

Opening performance snapshot

Your opening choices show a mix of solid and aggressive options. Some lines have strong performance, while others (like more gambit-focused choices) can backfire under bullet time pressure. Consider focusing on 2–3 openings you feel comfortable with, prioritized by clear plans and pawn structure advantages. For reference, you have promising results in flexible, solid defenses and standard central setups, and you may want to pair that with selective aggressive lines when you have a healthy time cushion.

• Explore two stable defenses you enjoy as Black, and two reliable setups you like as White. This helps you reach favourable middlegames more often.
• For quick study, anchor on a couple of typical middlegame plans for each opening and practice their standard transitions.
• Consider bookmarking these openings for deeper study: Alekhine Defense and French Defense: Advance Variation.

Strength-adjusted win rate interpretation

The strength-adjusted figure is around 0.499, which is just under 50%. In practice, this means your performance against similarly strong opponents tends to be around parity, with room to tilt games your way more often. The focus should be on reducing unforced errors, tightening your practical calculation in the quick time frame, and improving your ability to convert advantages when they arise.

Rating trend and momentum plan

Your recent month, quarter, and half-year changes show a negative momentum. To reverse this, target consistent improvements in decision quality and time usage rather than chasing every tactical motif. Build habits that keep you out of time trouble and ensure you finish more positions with a clear plan.

Concrete 4-week improvement plan

• Week 1 — Time management and tactics: commit to a daily 15–20 minute tactical puzzle session, plus 2 short bullet games with a strict 5-minute limit for the first 20 moves. After each game, write a one-line note about one missed threat and one improvement you could have made in time.
• Week 2 — Opening discipline: choose 2 openings (one White, one Black) and learn a simple, repeatable 3–4 move plan for each. Practice these plans in 6-8 practice games to build familiarity under pressure.
• Week 3 — Endgame fundamentals: study rook endgames and simple king activity ideas. Do 3 short endgame drills per week and apply the concepts in practice games.
• Week 4 — Review and refine: annotate 4 recent bullet games, focusing on where time was wasted and where threats were missed. Apply a small, consistent improvement in 2 games per day.