Guillermo Malbran IM

Hi Guillermo! 👋

Great job maintaining an active playing schedule and reaching a personal peak of 2300 (2019-09-29). After reviewing your most-recent games (especially the win versus hammertime2016 and the loss versus kesandr), here is some focused feedback.

What you’re doing well ✅

• Dynamic openings – As Black you employ the Alekhine and Sicilian to unbalance positions early. This often gives you practical chances and forces opponents out of mainstream theory.
• Tactical alertness – Combinations such as …Rg3-g1# in your win vs. Hammertime show sharp calculation skills.
• Piece activity over material – Several games feature timely exchange sacrifices that give lasting initiative.

Key areas to focus on ⚙️

1. Time management
   Three of the recent losses were on the clock. Try:
   • Using the opening phase to save time by playing pre-agreed lines you know well.
   • Setting mini-milestones: aim to have ≥60 % of your initial time after 10 moves, ≥30 % after 20 moves, etc.
2. End-game conversion
   In the loss to Kesandr you reached a roughly equal rook-and-pawn ending but drifted. Study the basics of the rook behind passed pawn principle and the concept of Opposition. Practical drill: play “R+4 vs R+4” against an engine on easy mode until you can hold it consistently.
3. Pawn-structure awareness
   Several Sicilian white games feature early d4-d5 breaks that leave backward c-pawns. Before pushing a pawn ask yourself, “Will this square become weak once the pawn moves?” Annotate one of your own games and mark every irreversible pawn move in red.
4. Refine your Alekhine repertoire
   You often reach the critical main line: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6. Opponents who know 4.Nf3 or 4.c4 achieve comfortable space. Two suggestions:
   • Study the Modern Variation 4…g6; it keeps the position flexible.
   • Have an alternate defence (e.g. the French) ready for days when the Alekhine feels stale.

Action plan for the next two weeks 📅

Progress trackers

• Hour-by-hour performance:

Motivation boost 🚀

Your tactical eye already wins you brilliant games; polishing the technical and time-management sides will convert many of those close losses into points. Keep the momentum, and your next peak rating is just around the corner!

Good luck, and enjoy your games!