Eline Roebers IM

Hi Eline!

Below is some personalised feedback based on your latest blitz sessions (3 | 0). I’ve focused on recurring patterns that appeared in several of your recent games rather than single, isolated mistakes.

What you’re doing particularly well

• Opening variety & initiative. You willingly switch structures (Najdorf 6.a3, Dutch, French, Nimzowitsch-Scandinavian, etc.) and often seize the initiative before move 10. That makes you hard to prepare for.
• Tactical alertness. Your wins frequently come from concrete calculation rather than quiet squeezing—e.g. 29.Qa4+! in your latest Najdorf win finished Black off efficiently.
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• Clock handling. Even in sharper positions you stay between 1 : 30 and 2 : 30 well into the middlegame, giving you the option to convert cleanly instead of relying on flag-outs.

Recurring leaks to patch

• Premature pawn storms when you’re Black in the Sicilian.
  In both the loss vs endgamemaster51 (B40) and vs rapidman01 (B47) you pushed …h5/…g5 before castling long. • Your king eventually had to hide on a7–b8 behind weakened pawns.
  • Meanwhile White opened lines with b4–b5 or a4–a5 and your own pieces couldn’t regroup.
  ➜ Guideline: If you choose the …g5/h5 plan, castle first (usually O-O-O) or be 100 % sure the centre is closed.
• Loose piece coordination in converted advantages.
  Example: the Four Knights loss vs DrunkenTesla—after 22.Rhe1 you were a sound pawn up but let the minor pieces drift, allowed …Re2+ and fell apart. ➜ When the engine’s eval is >+1.5, apply the “three-piece rule”: make sure at least three of your pieces are protected or protect each other before launching a new tactical shot.
• Endgame technique vs high-rated grinders.
  The marathon vs TrainerDejan reached an even rook ending (move 37) yet slipped to a mating net on move 73. ➜ Practical fix for blitz: in equal rook endings trade a-/h-pawns when ahead on time; this simplifies and narrows calculation trees.

Micro-training plan (2-week focus)

1. Patch the “early g-pawn” hole.
   • Load 20 blitz games where you played …g5/…h5 in the Sicilian. Filter by result.
   • Ask: “Did the pawn advance increase king safety, space, or tactical threats?” If the answer is “king got weaker” in >50 % of cases, shelve the plan until deeper prep.
2. 40-puzzle endgame sprint each morning.
   Use the “Rook & pawn vs rook” theme. Time-cap every puzzle at 45 s to replicate blitz pressure.
3. Model game study.
   Copy three recent games by Ding Liren where he plays the Taimanov as Black without early pawn thrusts. Play them over against an engine, guessing moves and noting divergences.

Quick stats snapshot

Peak blitz rating:  |  Recent hourly performance:

Positive trend to keep!

“Your willingness to complicate positions is a strength; with a slightly sturdier king you’ll convert those complications into even more points.”

Keep up the hard work, and feel free to ping me after your next 50-game batch—we’ll revisit these themes and measure progress.