Atilla Eynullayev FM

Quick recap (recent games)

Nice session — you have strong familiarity with the Caro‑Kann and you converted a clean attacking win where a passed pawn and king hunt finished the game. A few other recent games show recurring themes: tactical oversights, back‑rank and rook/endgame conversion issues, and occasional drift in time management under 1‑minute pressure.

• Highlight win vs Francisco Fiorito using the Caro-Kann Defense — good exploitation of a passed pawn and king hunt.
• Losses often came from tactical shots (lost material, Qxa1 ideas) or being outmaneuvered in rook/endgame play.
• Your rating trend is positive over 6 months — keep the momentum and fix the recurring leaks below.

What you did well

• Active attacking sense: you see king targets and play concrete hunts (the win shows clean exploitation of weaknesses and pawn pushes to e6→e7).
• Opening repertoire focus — your Caro‑Kann games show good knowledge and above‑average results vs that opening; keep using it as a go‑to weapon.
• Pattern recognition in short games: you use rook lifts, piece pressure and sacrificial ideas quickly — vital in bullet.
• Good resilience — overall Win:Loss:Draw balance is solid (725/710/110), so you keep returning and competing even after losses.

Key weaknesses to fix (concrete)

• Tactical alertness: don’t leave major pieces undefended or allow easy captures like Qxa1 or forks. In bullet the cost of a single overlooked check/attack is often decisive.
• Back‑rank and king safety: several losses stem from back‑rank motifs or allowing the opponent to open files toward your king — add luft or avoid passive rook placements when under pressure.
• Rook/endgame conversion: when material simplifications lead to rook endings, your opponent often gains active rook counters and passed pawns. Practice basic rook endgames and the technique to blockade/pass pawn races.
• Time management in 1‑minute: avoid spending time on moves that are obvious (recaptures, single‑move replies). Use premoves only when safe; avoid speculative premoves in complex positions.

Concrete drills (do these this week)

• Tactics: 10–15 minutes daily of mixed tactical puzzles (forks, skewers, back‑rank, discovered checks). Focus on recognizing checks and captures first — that’s where most bullet wins/loses come from.
• Endgame: 10 short exercises on rook vs rook + pawn endgames (Lucena / Philidor basics) and practice converting an extra passed pawn under a clock.
• One‑minute practice: play 20 focused 1‑minute games where your goal is “no hanging pieces” — resign only when you blunder. Review 3 losses and note what tactical motif you missed.

Bullet‑specific tips

• Keep your opening simple and repeat it (your Caro‑Kann is working). Memorise 5–8 safe continuations so you save time in the first 10–15 seconds.
• Use premoves only for forced recaptures or when your opponent has one legal capture. Otherwise they’re risky in messy positions.
• When ahead materially simplify quickly toward winning endgames — but be careful to keep your king active and rooks behind passed pawns.
• Maintain king safety: add a luft in middlegames or avoid unnecessary rook swaps that open files to your king.
• Mental: take 30–60 seconds break every 10 games — your accuracy and trend slope benefit from short rests (your 6‑month slope is positive; preserve it).

Short study plan (7 days)

• Day 1–2: 20–30 minutes tactics (focus on checks, forks, back‑rank). Play 10 bullet games after.
• Day 3: 20 minutes rook endgame basics + practice 10 rapid (5|0) conversion drills.
• Day 4: Opening review — reinforce two Caro‑Kann lines you use most. Write 5 move orders to absolute autopilot.
• Day 5–6: Play 40 focused 1‑minute games aiming for stable decision‑making and no blunders; review worst three losses deeply.
• Day 7: Light tactics + one longer blitz to test improvements (3|0 or 5|0).

Example — review your recent win

Study this winning game to see how you turned pressure into a decisive passed pawn and a king hunt. Replay and ask: where could the opponent have defended better? Where did you force the simplification that improved your king attack?

Small checklist before each bullet game

• Do I have a repeating, safe opening line ready? (yes → play it)
• Is my king safe (luft, pawn structure)? If not, fix quickly or avoid complications.
• Are my major pieces hanging? Check for opponent checks/captures before moving.
• If ahead, trade to a simple winning endgame; if behind, create complications and look for tactical shots.

Next steps

Pick two drills from above and follow the 7‑day plan. After that week send 3 annotated loss positions (just the critical moments) and I’ll give targeted corrective suggestions.

• Suggested annotated positions to send: a loss with a tactical miss, a rook‑endgame loss, and a back‑rank collapse.
• If you want, I can also produce a short repertoire card for your Caro‑Kann lines to speed up your opening play.