Krissy Smith

Hi Krissy!

Congratulations on your recent string of victories and on reaching 657 (2024-12-30). Your games show real fighting spirit and a willingness to try creative ideas. Below is some tailored feedback to help you level-up even faster.

What You’re Already Doing Well

• Spotting loose pieces. You often notice unprotected material (e.g. 9…Nf6 in your win vs karlomir1223) and grab it confidently.
• Tactical alertness. Themes such as forks and discovered checks appear frequently in your wins – keep sharpening them with daily puzzles.
• Playing for activity. You don’t shy away from pawn breaks like …d5 and f4/f5, which is excellent for creating chances.

Your Biggest Growth Opportunities

1. Early king safety.
   In several games the king wandered (e.g. Ke2, Kd2, Kf4). Aim to castle by move 8–10 in most openings so your pieces can attack while the king stays secure.
2. Follow classical opening principles.
   Many quick queen moves (Qh5, Qxc5) violate development and hand the initiative back. Build a simple repertoire where you:
   • Fight for the center with pawns & knights first.
   • Bring minor pieces out before the queen.
   • Castle, then connect rooks.
3. Time management.
   Most recent Daily games were lost on time despite equal or better positions. Set one or two daily reminder slots and make a habit of checking the “Games About to Timeout” filter.
4. Calculation discipline.
   When you see a capture, ask the 3-question checklist: “What happens after I take? What are the forcing replies? Can I improve the move order?” Spending even 5–10 seconds on this will reduce blunders dramatically.

Opening Shortlist (Next 30 Days)

• With White: Play the Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) until move 10 in every rapid game. This teaches quick development and castling.
• With Black vs 1.e4: Start with the French: 1…e6. It fits the solid style you used in your best games and avoids early queen raids.

Suggested Weekly Routine

• 3 rapid games on alternate days – review each with the computer & write one takeaway.
• 30 tactics puzzles (10-minute block) every day.
• One short video or article on an endgame topic – then practice it vs. the computer.

Game Spotlight

Your cleanest recent finish – notice how every move attacked something!

Track Your Progress

• Win-rate over the day:

Next Action Items

• Play two rapid games this week without moving the queen before move 10.
• Finish at least one Daily game before the 24-hour mark.
• After every loss, identify one missed tactic and add it to your personal “blunder diary.”

Keep the energy and creativity, Krissy, and combine it with a dash of structure – your rating will climb quickly. Good luck, and enjoy the journey!