Cormac Murray

Quick recap (recent games)

Nice little streak — you converted a clean tactical win (delivering mate as Black) and you also showed good attacking instincts in the resignation win. Your loss shows recurring endgame / passed-pawn handling that cost you. Below I break down what you did well, what to fix, and a practical plan to make more of your blitz time.

Replay: your most recent win (quick review)

Black (you) executed a short, brutal mating net after forcing the White king into the open with knight checks and a final queen mate. Solid conversion in a tactical middlegame — good vision for checks and forks.

Opponent: aji_aji

What you're doing well

• Good tactical radar in messy positions — you spot forks, checks and mating patterns quickly (see the knight checks that forced the king out).
• Comfortable navigating sharp middlegames and winning material from dynamic play.
• Willingness to simplify into winning endings when possible — you convert once ahead or with strong initiative.
• High game volume and consistent practice — that's why your longer-term trend is positive.

Recurring issues and what to fix

• Time trouble (zeitnot) and speed: in several games your clock usage becomes uneven. Blitz punishes long calculations late — make simpler practical decisions earlier.
• Endgame technique against passed pawns: your loss vs jjaxe19 shows a passed f-pawn that you couldn’t stop. Work on king + pawn races and basic pawn promotion defense patterns.
• Over-reliance on tactical complications versus methodical positional defense. When the position is equal, aim to improve piece activity instead of forcing complications that can backfire.
• Back-rank / mating net awareness: you both delivered and nearly fell into mating ideas. Always check for opponent counterchecks before grabbing material.

Opening & middlegame notes

You use a wide range of openings (Scotch, Sicilian lines, Indian setups). That versatility is good, but in blitz it helps to have a compact, reliable “go-to” repertoire for both colours so you waste less time in the opening.

• For positions from the Scotch Game, tighten your plan: exchange pieces when behind on space; push passed pawns when ahead. See Scotch Game for review points.
• If you play open, tactical openings often, keep pattern drills for knight forks, pins, skewers and classic mating nets — they repeat often in blitz.

Blitz-specific practical tips

• Make a 10-second test before each game: if an obvious tactic exists, take it; otherwise make a solid developing move. Avoid “thinking forever” on the opening moves.
• When ahead, simplify. Trade pieces (not pawns) and move to a won rook/vs pawn endgame — fewer tactics means fewer surprises.
• Watch for pre-move traps — don’t pre-move when your opponent has checks or captures available.
• Use the clock: if your opponent is in severe time trouble, keep the position complicated if you’re confident tactically; otherwise simplify if your own clock is low.

Concrete drills (daily / weekly)

• Daily (10–15 min): Tactics — focus on forks, pins, and back-rank mates. 40 puzzles targeting pattern recognition.
• 3× a week (30 min): Endgames — king + pawn vs king, rook endings, opposition and promotion races. Practice 5 specific positions until you convert them reliably.
• Weekly (1–2 games): Play a short rapid (10+5) focusing on one opening system you want to master — practice plans rather than memorising moves.
• One session monthly: review 5 lost games (including the JJaxe19 game). Ask: Where did the pawn breakthrough start? Could the king be centralized earlier?

Sample 1-hour practice session

• 10 min warmup: 15 easy tactics to sharpen pattern recall.
• 20 min endgame training: king+pawn vs king and one rook endgame drill.
• 20 min rapid (10|5) — choose one opening (e.g., a Scotch line) and try to follow planned ideas.
• 10 min review: save the rapid game and annotate 3 turning points.

Short-term goals (next 30 days)

• Cut down time trouble: finish the first 10 moves with at least 30–40 seconds on the clock in blitz.
• Win the “passed-pawn defence” drill: practice 10 pawn-race or blocked-pawn endgames until you feel confident defending promotions.
• Maintain pattern training: 200 tactics this month focusing on forks and mating nets.

Helpful references & tracks

• Review the loss vs jjaxe19 carefully — identify the move where the pawn break became unstoppable.
• Revisit your resignation win vs mohammedoo1202910: note how you turned tactical chances into a resignation — replicate that thought process.
• Openings to tidy up: focus one week on the Scotch / Three Knights structures — small repertoire, big confidence gains.

Parting note

Your long-term trend is positive despite short-term fluctuation — that means your practice and volume are paying off. Keep the tactical drilling and add short, focused endgame work. If you want, send 3 of your recent losses and I’ll annotate the exact tactical/strategic mistakes move-by-move.