Julius Chittka FM

Hi Julius (a.k.a. Elyon2000)!

Great work maintaining a 2581 (2022-04-07) that most players only dream of. Below is a snapshot of what you’re already doing well, where your recent games hint at hidden leaks, and a study plan to convert those leaks into rating gains.

What’s working

• Enterprising openings. Your wins show you thrive in Pirc-type and Alapin-Sicilian structures with early space grabs (e.g. 15.e6, 18.Re1 in the win vs Dossymbek). The initiative you gain often snowballs into direct attacks.
• Tactical alertness under time pressure. Mating nets like 46.Qg8# (vs Vic775) and the geometry behind 33.Rg4 Kh6 34.f4! highlight sharp calculation skills, especially when clocks are under 30 s.
• Resourceful piece activity. In several wins you willingly allow doubled pawns or pawn defects in exchange for open files & diagonals. This practical judgment turns dynamic imbalance into concrete threats—a hallmark of strong blitz play.

Growth opportunities

• Queens-Gambit structures as Black. All three recent losses came from QGD-type setups (D53, D31, E47). You often reached a standard position but then:
  1. Played …h6/…g5 aggressively, loosening kingside dark squares.
  2. Fell behind in development after pawn grabs (…cxd4 plus …Nxd5) without a clear follow-up.
  Consider adding a solid backup line (e.g. Ragozin or Vienna QGD) to avoid positions where you feel compelled to pawn-storm prematurely.
• Pawn-storm timing. Moves like …g5 (loss vs Raud100) or …h5/…h4 (loss vs laki99) happened before your minor pieces were coordinated. Review the concept of the hook and remember: if the opponent cannot be forced to open lines, each pawn push is a permanent weakness.
• Endgame pragmatism. Two lost games were resigned in still‐playable rook-and-pawn positions (e.g. after 28.Rc7! vs laki99). Activate the “never resign with rooks on” rule—blitz endgames are messy and opponents blunder.
• Time-management spikes. Your play rate fluctuates: in wins you average ~2 s per move until move 20, but in losses the first long think (>15 s) comes as early as move 10. Try the “checkpoint” method—budget an extra 10 s only after completing development, not before.

Action plan for the next 30 days

1. Targeted opening repair (15 min/day). Build a mini-repertoire file vs 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 using:
   • 5…h6 lines without …g5 (safe)
   • and one dynamic choice like the Tarrasch if you crave activity.
2. The g-pawn challenge. Play 20 blitz games where you forbid yourself from pushing the g-pawn before move 15 unless it wins material. Review the resulting middlegames to reinforce patience.
3. Endgame blitz drills (10 min/day). Load 20 random rook-and-pawn studies and play “side-to-move” vs the engine at depth 12. Focus on techniques like the Lucena position.
4. Clock discipline exercise. Use a visible progress bar (or simply count) to ensure your first 12 moves consume ≤45 s total. Repeat until it feels natural.

Tracking progress

Drop in once a week, tag your games, and glance at:

• to spot tilt sessions.
• to learn which days you’re freshest.

Encouragement

You already demonstrate GM-level tactical flashes; polishing structure handling and clock discipline could easily turn several of those recent losses into draws or wins. Stay curious, keep the pieces active, and remember: every pawn push writes a story—make sure yours have a happy ending!

Good luck, Julius, and enjoy the journey!