Eesha Karavade IM

Hi Eesha!

You are playing energetic, forward-looking chess that regularly overwhelms opponents rated around your level. Below is a quick snapshot of where you shine and a roadmap for the next ratings jump.

👍 What’s working well

• Consistent Initiative: Your Najdorf games show confident pawn storms (g4–g5, h4–h5) that keep Black on the back foot. You converted these attacks with impressive accuracy against Killer8002.
• Piece Activity over Material: Exchanges such as 13…Bxd5 16.hxg7 Rg8 18.exd5 illustrate your willingness to sacrifice structure for initiative—a hallmark of strong practical play.
• Clock Management (Rapid): In your 15 | 10 games you typically reach move 30 with 7–9 minutes left. Good! It gives you head-room to calculate critical endings.

🔍 Priority Improvements

1. Handling Solid Structures
   Losses vs 2300+ opponents (e.g. Old-Indian & Slav positions) suggest discomfort when an early pawn storm is unavailable.
   • Play training games starting from quiet Carlsbad and Hedgehog tabiyas; focus on manoeuvring plans rather than tactics.
   • Study model games by Karpov & Carlsen on prophylaxis and improving the worst piece. See also zugzwang to appreciate subtle pressure-building.
2. Central Counter-play as Black
   In the English Reversed Dutch loss (…f5, …g6) you drifted into a cramped position after 18…b5? and 20…a5?
   • When you commit to …f5, ensure the follow-up …e4 or …d5 arrives quickly; else the kingside becomes weak.
   • Add the Leningrad Dutch or King’s Indian to your repertoire so you can play these pawn structures with confidence.
3. Endgame Conversion
   Although you dominated middlegames, several wins needed 40+ moves because of missed technical shortcuts.
   • Drill basic rook-pawn endgames until they are automatic (Lucena, Philidor, & Vancura).
   • Use “simplify with tempo” techniques: trade queens only when the pawn race is clear, else keep pieces to maintain mating nets.
4. Opening Diversity
   Playing the Najdorf every game is excellent for mastery, but sprinkling in 1.e4 c5 3.Bb5⁺ or even 1.d4 will:
   • Reduce opponent preparation.
   • Expose you to new pawn structures, accelerating overall understanding.

📊 Your Training Dashboard

Use the widgets below to monitor progress. Aim for steady gains rather than spikes.

🕵️‍♀️ Mini-Lesson from Your Latest Win

The following critical fragment highlights precise coordination between heavy pieces and passed pawns.

⏭️ Next Steps (1-month plan)

• Monday/Wednesday: 30-minute endgame drills.
• Tuesday/Thursday: Analyse one grandmaster positional game; summarise three strategic themes.
• Weekend: Two training games from “quiet” openings; annotate without engines, then verify with an engine.

Keep the energy, broaden the foundation, and that next milestone rating will follow. Happy studying!