David Shapiro FM

Hi David, here is your personalized post-mortem

Quick snapshot

• Current form: solid 2700+ blitz strength with frequent wins against other titled players.
• Best to date: 2790 (2019-01-08)
• Activity trend:

Your core strengths

• Opening variety & surprise value – You score well with off-beat choices such as early g-pawn storms in the Caro-Kann and Trompowsky sidelines, catching opponents like Amilal Munkhdalai off guard.
• Tactical alertness – The wins against ნაზი თებიძე and MonsterChess_uz show crisp calculation of forcing sequences and mating nets.
• Conversion with material edge – Once clearly ahead you rarely let the advantage slip; moves such as 29.Rg8# demonstrate clean finishing technique.

Main improvement themes

1. Clock discipline
   Three of your last five losses (e.g., versus Chessontrack) were on time in technically drawable or even winning positions.
   Action plan:
   • Adopt a simple “20-10-5 rule”: aim to have ≥20 s after the opening, ≥10 s entering any simplified middlegame, ≥5 s in basic endgames.
   • Allow yourself one forced think per game; otherwise trust your intuition and keep the hand moving to avoid Zeitnot.
   • Play one session a week at 3 + 2; the increment reinforces good habits without removing all clock pressure.
2. Endgame economy
   Games against kopylov1978 and Kirill_Klukin reveal missed simplifications and over-ambitious pawn pushes that cost time and structure.
   Action plan:
   • Daily 10-minute drill: convert R + P vs R and N + P vs B positions against a strong engine until you can finish within 20 moves.
   • Refresh key Lúcius positions: B&N mate, Lucena, Philidor. (One diagram a day.)
3. Risk calibration in sharp openings
   Your pawn storms are effective but occasionally rebound (see the loss to DenLaz).
   Action plan:
   • Before any pawn push past the 4th rank ask “What if the thrust is ignored?” – a 5-second blunder check saves games.
   • Add a solid fallback line to each repertoire branch (e.g., Classical Caro-Kann instead of 2.Nc3 lines) to deploy when form is shaky.

Representative examples

Next two-week focus

Final encouragement

Your attacking flair already intimidates strong opposition. Bring the same discipline to the clock and the endgame, and 2800 blitz is within reach. Keep the energy high, the moves purposeful, and the seconds under control—good luck!