FloydFerris GM

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Your current snapshot

Peak blitz rating: 2911 (2024-03-20)

What you are doing well

• Dynamic opening choices. The Najdorf English-Attack and the audacious 3…f5 Jaenisch Gambit continually steer play into sharp, double-edged positions that suit your style and often knock strong rivals such as aquariusman2006 out of book early.
• Tactical awareness. You calculate forcing lines quickly and accurately. A striking example is the recent finish
  
  
  
  which shattered Black’s king and forced resignation.
• Initiative & piece activity. Your rooks routinely land on the seventh rank and your knights leap into f5/d6 squares before the opponent can organise. Many of your 3-minute wins are miniature master-classes in momentum.
• Psychological pressure. Pawn sacrifices, early …Qg6 ideas, and daring king walks keep opponents guessing and burn their clock—an important edge in 3|0 chess.

Growth opportunities

1. Endgame conversion. Both losses against Valery Kazakouski arose from endings that were still objectively holdable. Strengthen your R+P and minor-piece technique so that the hard work done in the middlegame is not wasted in move 40-60.
2. Over-extension of flank pawns. Early g/h thrusts (e.g., 8.h4 & 9.g4 in the Sämisch) can backfire when the opponent seizes the centre. Before pushing a pawn ask the classic Prophylaxis question: “What will my opponent do next if I play this move?”
3. Time management. Reaching critical positions with <15 s forces you into bullet-style decisions. Develop the habit of thinking during your opponent’s move and pre-selecting candidate replies so that your clock starts from a position of clarity.
4. Defensive technique. In slightly worse French and London positions you slipped from “holdable” to “lost” in a single move. Weekly “defence only” drills—set up a bad position versus an engine and try to hold for 30 moves—will build resilience.

Action plan for the next two weeks

• Play five slow (15|10 or longer) games devoted exclusively to endgame clarity. Annotate every move where you hesitated.
• Solve 20 rook-and-pawn studies. Focus on active king and outside passed pawn motifs.
• Review Kramnik model games with the London & Sämisch structures to see how he balances attack and king safety.
• Track each blitz session: did you spend >15 s on a non-forcing move? If yes, screenshot the position and analyse it offline.

Quick reference reminders

• Improve your worst-placed piece before calculating another sacrifice.
• When attacking, a quiet Zwischenzug is often deadlier than the flashiest check.
• In endings remember the triangle: King activity → Passed pawn → Piece activity.

Keep your trademark energy, add a dose of restraint, and 2900 is within reach. Good luck!