Jacques Blit IM

Hi Jacques!

Your recent games show the class of a strong titled blitz player (≈2741 (2021-06-09)). Below is a focused review, drawn mainly from the latest session.

What you’re already doing very well

• Dynamic opening choices – You switch smoothly between the Sicilian, Dutch-Leningrad set-ups and …e6/…c5 hybrids, keeping opponents out of book.
• Piece activity over material – In several wins (e.g. vs. tnguyen603) you sacrificed pawns to activate the knight on c4 and double rooks on the f-file, freezing White’s king side.
• Practical speed instincts – You repeatedly converted equal or slightly worse positions by playing fast; four of the five wins were flagged victories.

Main improvement areas

1. Time-management balance
   You often enter winning endgames with single-digit seconds. This gives opponents comeback chances and cost the loss vs. vladislavkovalev (flagged from a playable rook ending). Aim to keep ≥15 s by move 25. Practical tips:
   • Use the opponent’s move to plan; make your first candidate move before his clock stops.
   • Adopt a “OK-good-perfect” rule: if the first move you see is OK, play it under 10 s; don’t hunt for perfection.
2. Conversion technique in rook endings
   In the loss to Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop you were down a pawn but still had drawing chances until 43…Rxb3 allowed White’s passer to queen.
   Critical fragment:
   
   
   General advice:
   • Keep pawns on both wings; avoid giving the opponent a protected passer.
   • When down material, trade a pair of rooks quickly – lone rook vs. rook is easier to hold.
3. Handling h-pawn storms against the Modern/Pirc
   Three January losses (Hrant, Kovalev, Genghis) followed the same script: White plays h4–h5 and you meet it with …c5 but let the king stay on g8. Consider these adjustments:
   • Insert …h5 yourself – meeting h4 with …h5 stops further space gain.
   • If you allow h4–h5, meet it with …Nf8–h7 and later …g5, closing files before castling short.
   • Study the line Pirc, Austrian Attack 5…c5; model games by Alexander Grischuk show typical defensive setups.
4. Missed tactical shots in constrained positions
   In the Modern loss you resigned after 14.Bh6, yet 14…Bxh6?? is impossible. However the engine shows 14…e6 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 with fighting chances. When you feel the attack is overwhelming, take a 2-second blunder check – many blitz games are saved that way.

Opening micro-tweaks to test this week

• Sicilian French Variation (B40) – After 4.c3 Nc6 5.cxd4 d5 6.e5 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nh6!? is creative but gives up dark-square control. Try the main line 7…Nge7 8.Bd3 Nf5, keeping structure sound.
• Dutch with …g6 – Your idea 9…Nf4! vs. AtomicAcorn was thematic. Follow up with …e5 sooner; it stops White’s d-pawn break and keeps the dark-squared bishop happy.
• Reti/Pseudo-Catalan as White – You reached pleasant middlegames but struggled to create winning chances. Consider the sharper 4.e4 c5 5.d4 lines (King’s Indian Attack) for more imbalance.

Suggested training menu

• Daily 15-minute tactical sprint on a low-increment puzzle trainer; emphasise mate-in-3 and win material.
• Endgame flashcards: rook + pawn vs. rook (Philidor, Lucena) – drill until you solve each in ≤30 s.
• Play two 5 + 5 games per day using only increment; forbid yourself to flag wins – convert on the board.

Performance snapshots

These will reveal when you tilt and help you schedule peak-focus sessions.

Final thought

You have the tactical eye and intuition to break 2600 blitz again. Tighten the time-management screws, beef up rook-ending technique, and add a reliable anti-h4 plan in the Modern/Pirc – the rating gains will come fast.

Good luck and enjoy the grind!