José Carlos Ibarra Jerez GM

Overview: what the data says about your blitz play

Your recent blitz activity shows solid momentum in short-to-mid term periods, with positive movement in 1, 3, and 6 month ratings. The longest 12 month trend, however, shows more fluctuation. This combination suggests you are improving quickly in the near term but could benefit from stabilizing your longer‑term performance. Your openings data indicates you perform very well in sharp, tactical lines like the Sicilian Defense variants (notably the Alapin and Scotch-related lines). This pattern points to strengths in calculation and staying active in dynamic positions, while also highlighting an area to build consistency in non-tactical, quieter positions and endgames.

What’s going well

• You often achieve favorable, sharp middlegame play in openings such as the Sicilian Alapin Variation and the Scotch Game, where you seek active piece play and tactical chances.
• Your near-term rating momentum (1–3–6 months) shows you are trending upward, indicating effective practice and improvement efforts lately.
• Openings performance data shows strong win rates in a set of aggressive, directive lines, suggesting you handle complex tactics well when you have clear plans.

Areas to improve

• Time management in blitz: ensure you allocate thinking time for critical middlegame transitions and avoid rushed decisions in the late phase of the game.
• Consistency in quieter or more positional positions: when the position is less forcing, focus on solid structure, prophylaxis, and simpler plans to reduce chances of missteps under time pressure.
• Endgame technique: work on converting advantages into clear, decisive endgames (especially rook endings and pawn endgames) to maximize winning chances in close games.
• Pattern recognition and memory: reinforce common tactical motifs and typical middlegame themes arising from your top openings so you recognize them quickly in blitz.

Opening strategy recommendations

Based on your openings performance, consider focusing your blitz repertoire on a small set of high‑confidence lines that suit your style:

• Prioritize the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation and its related setups, where you show strong results. Build a compact plan sheet with typical pawn structures and main middlegame ideas. Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
• Maintain a rhythm with the Scotch Game, which also yields sharp, tactical games when you’re playing for the win. Scotch Game
• Include a reliable, solid alternative (for your slower blitz moments), such as a carefully prepared English Opening or a flexible Repertoire move to avoid getting stuck in over-the-board time trouble. English Opening

Practical tip: create a short decision tree for each chosen opening that covers 6–8 key move orders and the typical middlegame plans (attack on the kingside, control of the center, typical pawn breaks). This helps you respond quickly when the position becomes complex or when you’re under time pressure.

Practice plan to implement this month

• Daily focus block (20–30 minutes): tactical puzzles that reinforce motifs common in your top openings (forks, pins, discovered attacks, and piece coordination in dynamic structures).
• Blitz-review routine (2–3 sessions per week): review your last 5 blitz games, note 3 concrete learnings and 1 plan to apply in the next session.
• Opening study (3 sessions per week, 25–40 minutes each): drill the main lines of Sicilian Alapin and Scotch, plus the chosen solid alternative. Create quick reference notes for typical middlegame plans and common deviations.
• Endgame practice (2 sessions per week, 20–30 minutes): rook endings, king activity in pawn endgames, and simple technique for converting small advantages.

Optional study aids can include brief written summaries of each opening’s typical structures and a few example endgames to drill until you can recall them under time pressure.

In-game approach and post-game routine (simple, mobile-friendly)

• Before each blitz game: set a clear plan for the first 10–12 moves based on your chosen opening. Keep a short list of 2–3 strategic goals (e.g., maintain central tension, activate a specific piece, avoid premature exchanges).
• During the game: monitor time closely, reserve a small cushion for critical middlegame decisions, and use simple, forcing moves when under pressure.
• After each game: write down 3 takeaways and 1 actionable change for your next game. This creates a feedback loop that compounds improvement over time.

Notes and placeholders for further enrichment

You can customize this coach plan by attaching specific game references or PGN snippets to your study notes. For quick reference, you may insert internal links to the top openings you use, for example: Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation and Scotch Game.