Eopath 1

Hi Eopath!

You have a solid foundation at the 450-500 level: almost every game starts with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 – a principled way to claim the centre. As Black you are already experimenting with the Tarrasch and Queen’s-Gambit set-ups. Below is feedback based on your most recent games and general trends I see in your play.

What you are already doing well

• Opening choice & piece activity – building pawn duos (d4 & c4) and developing minor pieces quickly. In the win vs Folkmate you reached a harmonious position as early as move 7.
• Tactical alertness – you spotted 9…Qxf6! and calmly accepted the free queen. In several wins you punished opponents who left pieces hanging.
• Willingness to trade – exchanging when ahead (e.g. 23.Rxe8# conversion vs JovemDebie) shows good practical instincts.

Biggest improvement areas

1. Time management
   Four of your last five losses ended on time in positions that were still playable.
   Action:
   • Play slightly longer games (e.g. 10 + 5) so you can calculate without panic.
   • Adopt a simple “Scan-Plan-Move” routine: quick blunder-check (< 5 s), form a plan, then move.
2. King safety & early queen adventures
   Games against vino0219 and perladelvalle show your queen marching to b7 / b4 while your king sat in the centre. When the opponent castled first, the initiative switched against you.
   Rule of thumb: Don’t move the queen twice in the opening unless you win material or force mate. Castle before move 10 whenever possible. king-safety initiative
3. Spotting one-move tricks
   11.Qxb7? (vs perladelvalle) lost instantly to 11…0-0! pinning your queen. Train daily tactic puzzles focussed on pins & removing the defender.
   Key moment:
   
   Before taking loose pawns, ask: “What is my opponent’s next move?”
4. Endgame conversion
   The marathon vs MajamiX shows good fighting spirit but also some missed king activity and pawn technique.
   Action: study the basic K+P endings (opposition, outside passed pawn) and rook endings (Lucena & Philidor). Ten minutes a day is enough at this stage. endgame

Personalised study plan (4-week)

• Week 1 & 2 – Tactics focus
  • 20 puzzles/day filtered at 200-400 rating above yours.
  • Track streaks and note patterns that trip you up (pins, forks, back-rank).
  • Aim for 80 % accuracy before moving to harder sets.
• Week 3 – Openings refresh
  • Write a one-page “mini-repertoire” for your QG lines: key ideas, common traps (…Bb4+, …Qb6).
  • Practise the first 10 moves vs computer set to 800 strength; focus on getting castled and rooks connected.
• Week 4 – Endgame basics
  • Watch one short video/day on K&P or R&P endings; replicate positions on a board.
  • Play 5 games starting from an equal rook ending; try to win the pawn game.

Tracking your progress

Keep an eye on your peak ratings – you are not far from 600!

Current bests: Blitz 647 (2020-06-12), Rapid 875 (2020-11-19)

Quick motivation

Every 100-point climb is usually built on eliminating one consistent mistake. Fix the time pressure issue first and 600+ will follow naturally.

Good luck at the board – and remember: Develop • Castle • Tactics • Then attack!