Gukesh D GM

Hi Gukesh, here is some constructive feedback based on your latest games.

Quick Snapshot

• Current peak blitz rating: 3064 (2025-04-15).
• Typical playing hours  ➜ 
• Day-to-day consistency  ➜ 

What’s Working Well

• Opening versatility. You comfortably switch between the English, Catalan, Caro-Kann and the Queen’s Gambit. The recent win vs Vladimir Fedoseev in the English Four Knights shows good feel for early pawn breaks (8.b4!).
• Tactical alertness. Your 33.Rf7+!! in the same game created an unstoppable mating net:
  
• Resourceful defence. Several inferior positions were saved by counter-sacrifices (e.g., 16…Nd5! in the Caro-Kann against Aldiyar Zhauynbay).

Key Areas to Tackle Next

1. Time Management

Four of the last eight losses were caused or heavily influenced by time pressure, including the games vs Kent Slate and Arjun Erigaisi where perfectly holdable endings were flagged. Try the “30-second rule”: make a move by 0:30 on the clock unless the position is truly critical; this keeps a safety buffer.

2. Converting Technical Advantages

Against Vladimir Fedoseev (E91), you were two pawns up after 30…a5 but later mis-coordinated rooks and knights, missing simpler winning plans such as …Nd4–f3+ followed by …b5-b4. Practise “stepping-stone planning” in rook-and-minor-piece endings: identify (i) fixed targets, (ii) entry squares, (iii) king routes. End-game sparring with a 10 + 5 time control will help.

3. Pawn-Structure Discipline as Black

In several Queen’s Gambit Declined positions you played …c5 and …e5 too early, creating holes on d5 & f5. Review model games by Kramnik/Karjakin on the Carlsbad structure (MinorityAttack and HangingPawns) and aim for piece activity rather than premature pawn breaks.

4. Critical Moment Awareness

A single inaccuracy often turned an equal game into a defensive task. Example from your loss vs GHANDEEVAM2003 (King’s Indian): after 17…e4? the dark-square bishop became passive and White seized the initiative.
Train with the “blunder check” routine: before playing a forcing move ask, “What will my opponent’s most forcing reply look like?”.

Targeted Training Plan (next 4 weeks)

1. Clock discipline drills – play 15 games of 3 + 2 where you must keep ≥20 s at move 30. Note decisions you spent >15 s on and review whether it was justified.
2. End-game technique – work through 20 rook-and-pawn studies (Silman’s end-game course, chapter 7). Focus on building bridges and the Lucena/Philidor positions.
3. Opening audit – create a mini-repertoire file for Black vs 1.d4 based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, limiting move memorisation to first 12 moves but adding verbal plans. This avoids the structural weaknesses seen in your current QGD setups.
4. Tactics under time – 40 puzzles/day on Puzzle Rush Survival, but with a 3-minute cap to simulate game pressure.

Positive Momentum

Your attacking instincts and varied opening choice are elite-level attributes. By adding steadier time usage and tightening structural decisions you are on course to break the next rating barrier soon. Keep the fighting spirit high – looking forward to your next set of sparkling games!