Grigor Grigorov GM

Overview of recent rapid games

You’ve shown a willingness to play dynamic, tactical lines and to seize chances in the middlegame. Your recent wins demonstrate you can convert initiative into a clear advantage, while your losses and the draw indicate several moments where sharper calculation and a steadier plan could help you avoid turning tactical chances into risk. The openings data you’ve used suggests you’re comfortable with sharp, active play, but there is room to strengthen your strategy after the opening and during the transition to the endgame.

What you are doing well

• You actively seek activity and sharp chances in the middlegame, and you’re able to capitalize on tactical motifs when your opponent overextends.
• You show courage in choosing dynamic openings and are able to generate pressure on the king side or in the center when the position allows it.
• You convert favorable middlegame imbalances into concrete advantages in several games, finishing with a clear plan to press for the win.
• You have demonstrated solid practical defense in some of your wins, keeping material balance while coordinating pieces toward your attack.
• Your openness to different structures (such as Caro-Kann and King’s Indian setups) shows versatility and resilience in applying ideas as needed.

Areas to improve (based on recent games)

• Plan and structure after the opening: in dynamic lines, pin down a clear middle-game plan instead of chasing tactics without a longer-term goal. Try to identify a concrete objective within the first 15 moves and aim to reach a position where your plan is easy to follow.
• King safety and prophylaxis: in several middlegame turmoils, ensure your king remains safe while you attack. Before committing to heavy pawn storms or piece incursions, double-check potential counterplay against your king.
• Calculation discipline in complex exchanges: in high-tension middlegames, pause to verify critical branches a couple of moves ahead. If you’re unsure, simplify to a favorable endgame or consolidate a material edge rather than forcing complications.
• Endgame technique: work on common endgame patterns you’re likely to reach from your openings, especially rook and minor piece endgames, to improve your conversion rate when it’s still near equal.
• Time management in rapid: balance the urge to play quickly with ensuring you have time to verify critical decisions. Allocate a small but steady portion of time to verify key tactics and structural…
• Opening adaptation: while you excel in sharp lines, include reliable, solid middlegame plans in your repertoire to keep pressure without overextending. Having at least one solid, equalizing option against aggressive defenses can be a useful counterweight.

Opening performance and actionable plan

Your openings show strengths in several dynamic setups. Here are targeted takeaways and recommended refinements for the next weeks:

• Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit — you have shown the ability to generate quick activity. Keep refining the key pawn storms and piece moves; make sure you have a concrete plan if you sacrifice a pawn, and know which lines support your attack most clearly. For a safer proportional plan, pair it with solid development when the attack isn’t immediate.
• Diemer-Duhm Gambit (4...f5) — this line is very sharp and risky. Use it sparingly and only when you’re confident in the typical tactical sequences and the resulting endgames. If unsure, switch to a steadier option in the same opening family.
• Caro-Kann Defense — you’ve achieved solid results here. Keep leaning on the structure and plan to activate rooks on open files after necessary trades. Be mindful of back-rank weaknesses as the position simplifies.
• King’s Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Variation — strong practical results on your side. Maintain a robust central grip with pawns and control of key squares. Watch for overcommitment on the kingside before your pieces have full activity.

For quick reference, you can review these openings with focused practice on typical plans and common middlegame ideas. Examples you can study in practice sessions include: Hungarian Opening, Diemer-Duhm Gambit, Caro-Kann Defense, King’s Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variant.

If you want a move-by-move study, you can also look at annotated games from recent sessions:

Practical training plan for the next 2 weeks

• Study 2-3 common endgames you tend to reach, and practice them against a randomized set of positions or with a drill partner.
• Work on 15-20 tactical puzzles daily that focus on the types of motifs that appear in your losses (forks, pin combinations, and queen–rook interactions).
• Practice 2-3 opening lines from your strongest repertoires (Caro-Kann and King’s Indian Fianchetto variants) with a focus on move order and typical middlegame plans.
• Implement a 1-2 minute post-game review habit: after each rapid game, write a short bullet list of: the plan you pursued, the turning point, and one improvement for next time.
• Time management drill: in practice games, set a target to spend roughly the same amount of time in the opening as your opponents, then allocate more time to key middlegame decisions rather than rushing.

Next steps and accountability

Choose one solid opening (Caro-Kann or King’s Indian Defense) to deepen over the next two weeks, and keep a simple 1-page outline of the plan for the typical middlegame structures. Schedule a weekly self-review of annotated games to identify recurring mistakes and confirm progress.

Study resources (optional)

Use the following placeholders to guide your study notes and practice sessions:

• Annotated game set from your recent games:
• Opening quick reference: Hungarian Opening
• Opening quick reference: Diemer-Duhm Gambit
• Opening quick reference: Caro-Kann Defense