Bennet Hagner IM

Hi Bennet, here is your personalized post-game review

Quick snapshot

• Peak Rapid rating: 2057 (2023-05-09)
• Activity trends:
   

Your latest victory – what went well

The Italian Knight Attack you played as Black showed good opening awareness and tactical alertness:

• Opening choice: 4…d5! immediately challenged White and steered the game toward lines you know well.
• Piece activity: The light-square bishop and queen coordinated to create multiple threats (…Bg4, …Qxf5, …Re5).
• Conversion: After 24…Rg5+ you did not let the initiative slip; every move either checked or increased pressure until mate.

Your latest defeat – what to fix first

You lost on time in a sharp Sicilian Nimzowitsch. Even though you reached a winning endgame, the clock defeated you:

• Time management: You spent 50 % of the game under 30 s. Adopt a “move-/time-bank” rule: stay above (remaining moves × 2 s) whenever possible.
• Critical moment (move 20…Ba3): Good idea, but calculate the follow-up before pushing the b-pawn; after 22…Bd3 the rook lift on g3 became unstoppable.
• Ending technique: When up material, simplify sooner. Trading queens on c7 or steering to a rook ending would have made the win trivial and saved clock.

3 biggest strengths to keep nurturing

1. Tactical eye: Your combinations (…Re5, …Rg5+) show sharp calculation. Keep sharpening with daily puzzle rush or tactics trainer.
2. Opening variety: You handle both Italian and Caro-Kann structures well, giving you flexibility.
3. Fighting spirit: Even in worse positions you push for counter-play (…b5, …h5 ideas). This resilience converts into extra wins.

3 concrete goals for the next two weeks

1. Clock discipline drill: Play 10 rapid games where you consciously move before the clock drops under 50 % – review each for lost time sinks.
2. Endgame refresh: Revisit rook-and-pawn basics (Philidor, Lucena). Ten minutes daily is enough, focus on converting pawn up positions.
3. Opening cleanup: Prepare a concise response to 5.e5 in the Sicilian Nimzowitsch so you can play the first 10 moves quickly.

Recommended study bites

• 10-minute video on the Italian Two Knights – especially plans after 4.Ng5 d5.
• Interactive lesson on the break-even point between calculation depth and clock usage.
• Puzzle set: “Interference & deflection” (fits your attacking style).

Stay consistent and track your progress. I’m looking forward to seeing your next improvement jump!