Hi Dawid!
You’ve been playing energetic, ambitious chess and it shows in your results. Let’s build on those strengths while tightening up a few recurring weak spots.
What you’re already doing well
- Initiative-first mindset. In many wins (e.g. against Md Omar Ak Hafizon Pg and IMab3020) you seized space with early pawn breaks (e4–e5, f-pawns forward) and never let go of the tempo.
- Tactical alertness. 24.Rxd7! – 27.Ra7! in the most recent win shows excellent calculation and confidence in material imbalances.
- Fast decision making. You often finish 60-second games with >10 s on the clock. That speed is a weapon once the underlying evaluation is solid.
Low-hanging fruit (1–2 weeks)
- King safety & prophylaxis.
• Loss vs. alex_7kxxx: 27…g5?! weakened dark squares, allowing Qd4–e3–h7 mate.
• Loss vs. ethanll09: 24…d5 created self-pins on the e-file and cost the game.
Rule of thumb: Before any pawn thrust, ask “What squares will become weak and can my opponent land a piece there in 2 moves?” Spend just one extra second on that question. - Conversion of extra material.
Games that reach winning rook endgames sometimes slip (see 37…Qg4# vs. ethanll09 from the opposite side). Drill basic rook endings (Lucena, Philidor) until conversion feels automatic. - Time-control variety.
Your intuition is strong, but complex endings need deeper thought. Mix in several 10|0 or 15|10 games each week for deliberate practice.
Strategic themes to study (next 2–3 months)
- Pawn majorities & passed-pawn races. Loss vs. Alex_7kxxx hinged on handling the a--pawn race. Study classic games where one side wins by queening a wing pawn.
- Benoni / Benko structures as Black. You often reach …c5, …g6 setups. Invest time in model games by Kasparov & Topalov to learn typical plans.
- Prophylactic thinking. Read a chapter of Dvoretsky’s “Positional Play” or Nikos Ntirlis’ “Playing with the Pieces” and practice spotting opposing threats before you attack.
Opening toolbox
Your flexible move-order (Reti, Saragossa, Larsen) is a strength, yet sometimes drifts into unclear territory. Suggested focuses:
| You are White | Key Idea |
|---|---|
| Saragossa 1.c3 | Meet …d5/…e5 by steering into reversed Caro-Kann plans (c4, d4 break). |
| Reti / g3 setups | Have a ready answer vs. early …c5; study Fischer–Petrosian (1962) for a blueprint. |
As Black, the …b6/…Bb7 Owen’s lines score well but watch the c--file pressure; keep a rook ready for c-counterplay.
Illustrative moment
From your loss to Alex_7kxxx:
You were up material but loosening moves (…g5, …e4) gave White access to dark squares. Instead, 28…Rc4! forces queens off and wins technically.
Training plan
- Daily: 15 minutes of tactics (4-5 puzzles at 2400+ rating) emphasizing defensive motifs such as intermediate checks and back-rank patterns.
- 3× / week: Play one 15|10 game. Annotate yourself first, then compare with engine.
- Weekly endgame session: Work through 5 positions from Silman’s “Complete Endgame Course” starting at your rating band.
Mindset reminder
“Play what the position demands, not what your last game suggests.” — Keep each move fresh.
Good luck pushing toward your next milestone of 2617 (2023-05-29)! Keep the energy, add a dash of restraint, and your win-rate curve will keep climbing.
See you over the board!
— Your Chess Coach