Carlo Pernigotti NM

Overview of your blitz style

You tend to go for dynamic, sharp positions and are comfortable creating imbalances that test your opponent's nerves. Your practical sense in the middlegame helps you convert tricky situations into chances, especially when you maintain piece activity and pressure. In blitz, this willingness to complicate can yield scoring opportunities, even when the position looks unclear at first glance.

What you are doing well

• Solid opening choices: you perform well with several reliable families, particularly Slav Defense, Sicilian Defense, and English Opening variations. These setups tend to lead to solid middlegames where your tactical awareness can shine.
• Active piece play: you often activate your pieces quickly, putting pressure on the opponent and creating practical threats that are hard to parry in blitz.
• Resilience in tight spots: you seem able to navigate messy positions and find forcing moves that keep you in the game, which is a valuable skill in fast time controls.

Areas to improve

• Time management: try to form a clear plan within the first several moves and avoid spending excessive time on secondary lines when the clock is running down. Develop a habit of choosing a primary plan and sticking to it unless there is a concrete reason to switch.
• Endgame technique: blitz endgames can be brutal if you miss simple conversions. Focus on common rook endings and pawn endgames so you can convert advantages more reliably when the position simplifies.
• Pattern recognition: build faster recognition of standard tactical motifs (forks, pins, discovered checks) through daily puzzles and quick game reviews, so you can spot critical ideas earlier in blitz.
• Move ordering: in some positions you spend time analyzing multiple candidate moves that are not critical. Improve by prioritizing moves that address king safety, central control, and the most forcing ideas first.
• Opening discipline under time pressure: keep two to three trusted lines for blitz and use straightforward plans rather than venturing into heavily analyzed novelties you’re less confident with on the clock.

Opening strategy guidance

Your openings show solid results in several systems. The Slav Defense and Sicilian Defense have demonstrated strong performance, suggesting you’re comfortable handling asymmetrical structures and dynamic play. The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense line also works well and offers practical middlegames. Plan to master two openings deeply for blitz (for example, Slav and Sicilian) and keep a simple, reliable third option to fall back on when faced with surprise lines.

Training plan for the coming weeks

• Weeks 1–2: Deeply study and practice two openings you want to rely on in blitz (suggested: Slav Defense and Sicilian Defense). Include 4 blitz sessions per week focused on these lines and complete daily puzzles (about 15 minutes of puzzle work).
• Week 3: Add a third dependable opening (such as English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense) and drill move ordering in typical middlegame structures from that line.
• Endgame focus: dedicate 1–2 short sessions per week to rook endings and common pawn endgames to improve conversion in blitz.
• Time management drills: run short 5-minute blitz blocks with a strict time cap per game; track average time per move and aim to drop it gradually while maintaining quality.

Practical practice plan (2-week sample)

• Session A: 2 blitz games focused on Slav Defense, followed by 15–20 quick puzzles related to typical Slav structures.
• Session B: 2 blitz games focused on Sicilian Defense, with 15 minutes of post-game review targeting key critical moments.
• Session C: 2 blitz games from English Opening (Anglo-Indian branch), plus endgame practice for rook endings.
• Repeat with adjustments based on what felt most challenging, always ending with a brief reflection on one concrete improvement for the next session.

Notes on progress

You’ve shown a positive six-month trend, with steady progress over longer periods. To capitalize on this momentum, maintain regular, focused practice that reinforces decision-making under time pressure and strengthens endgame conversion. Small, consistent improvements each week will compound into meaningful gains over months of blitz play.