Ferenc Jr. Gombocz FM

Hi Ferenc, here’s a focussed review of your recent Blitz performance ()

What you already do very well

• Opening variety  – You alternate comfortably between 1.e4 (Ruy Lopez) and 1.c4 English systems, keeping opponents guessing.
• Piece activity – Your wins usually feature rapid piece mobilisation (e.g. 15…Nh5! in the win against chessking2007sh forcing weaknesses).
• Dynamic exchange-sacs – The victory over 69360420obama shows you recognise when an exchange sacrifice (21.Rxf8+) converts to a passed pawn avalanche.
• Perseverance in messy positions – Even when the structure is unbalanced you keep looking for counter-play rather than drifting.

Key improvement themes

• Time management – Three of the last five losses were decided by the clock or under 5 s. Try the “40-20-20-20” split (40 % opening, 20 % middlegame transition, 20 % converting the advantage, 20 % reserve).
• King safety in the English – The loss to dr_absolutecarnage shows that the early f-pawn push (10.f4?!) exposed g1–a7. Re-examine setups with f2-f3 instead of f-pawn slashes.
• Counting tactics before pawn breaks – In several defeats (vs Boatolia2, Andrei_Mainescu) you opened files before completing development. Adopt a “three defenders vs three attackers” checklist before playing b4, f4, or d4.
• Endgame technique – When up material you sometimes drift (see 2025-06-05 vs native_faith). A daily dose of 3-4 rook-and-pawn studies will sharpen conversion skills and reinforce ideas like opposition and the Lucena bridge.

Illustrative moments

A missed resource in the loss to Dr_AbsoluteCarnage – instead of 18…Nxd5? you could play 18…Bd4! first, forcing 19.Bxd4 cxd4 winning a tempo and keeping the knight on f4 out of play.

A strong tactical sequence from your win vs MasterKroket

Action plan for the next two weeks

1. Opening tune-up: Add one sideline against the ultra-symmetrical English (…c5 & …Nc6). Study 30 minutes of the Botvinnik system with early d4.
2. Endgame drills: 15 rook-vs-rook-and-pawn endings on an engine-free board. Focus on building the bridge and avoiding zugzwang.
3. Blitz routine: Play two training games/day where you force yourself to keep ≥20 s after move 30 – resign if you violate it. This builds the habit of banking time.
4. Post-game notes: After every session tag one “opening”, one “tactic”, and one “endgame” takeaway in a notebook; review weekly.

Progress dashboards

Use these to spot patterns in energy and result swings:

Keep sharpening your tactical alertness and give the clock a little love – with those tweaks you’re well on track to break the 2700 Blitz barrier soon. Good luck!