Dmitry Zilberstein IM

Hi Dmitry (“dzil”) – Performance Review & Action Plan

1. Current snapshot

You are hovering just below master level in 3-minute games with a peak of .
Your overall trend is positive — especially during late-evening sessions.

2. What you are already doing well

• Opening versatility. You switch comfortably between 1.e4, 1.d4 and even Chess960 structures, making prep against you difficult.
• Early central counter-punches. In the win vs.  Rook_Solid2002 (Giuoco Pianissimo) the energetic 6…d5 seized the initiative straight away.
• Tactical alertness under time pressure. The 24…fxg4! 25…Qxf2+ combination from the same game shows quick, accurate calculation.
• Crisp end-game technique. Several conversions (e.g. vs. FizzyBand, diagram below) prove that once you’re a pawn up you rarely let it slip.
  

3. Biggest improvement levers

1. Prophylaxis & king safety.
   In the loss to Rodwell Makoto an innocent-looking 15.Nxf6+ exploited dark-square weaknesses you hadn’t covered. Build the habit of asking “prophylaxis — what does my opponent want if I pass?” before every move.
2. Pawn-structure understanding in Benko-type positions.
   As White against Joan Trepat Herranz you accepted the pawn but later let …f5–f4 and …Nb4 crash through. Study three model games (Topalov & Mamedyarov) where White returns the pawn for central control instead of nursing it.
3. Piece coordination in closed centres.
   In the Chess960 defeat vs. MartinBezuch you locked the centre with d4-d5/e4-e5 yet left heavy pieces stuck on the a-file. Practise manoeuvring knights to c4/e4 or f5, then doubling rooks before breaking through.
4. Practical time management.
   Most decisive mistakes happened after dropping below 30 s (e.g. 24…Nc4? in the Chess960 loss). Set a soft limit: make each non-forcing middlegame decision by 40–60 s to keep your increment buffer alive.

4. Two-week drill schedule

5. Quick reference checklist

• Before pushing …c5 or …f5, guard long diagonals (b1–h7, a2–g8).
• If an enemy knight lands on h5/g5, inspect mating nets on h7/h2 instantly.
• With opposite-coloured bishops, push pawns on both colours to restrict the defender.
• Use your increment — with 5 s left, play a safe move rather than hunting perfection.

Keep challenging higher-rated opponents and refining these points. Your tactical eye and fighting spirit are already master-class — sharpening strategic patience will push you beyond in the next few months.