Kamaalott

Hi Kamaalott, great fighting spirit!

You just finished an intense blitz streak: 5 wins, 5 losses, peak blitz rating 692 (2024-09-16). Below is an honest but upbeat assessment so you can climb toward 700+ next.

Quick pulse check

What you already do well

• Tactical awareness. Your wins against juicy_beefer and alligator_jack show you spot forks, pins and discovered checks quickly (e.g. 29.Bc7! in the first game).
• Piece activity. You usually develop quickly and place rooks on open files—excellent habits at any level.
• Fighting attitude. Even in worse positions you keep looking for counter-play instead of resigning.

Biggest improvement opportunities

1. Time management (critical).
   Three of today’s defeats were on time. Blunders happen when the clock reaches single digits.
   • Use the opening phase to build a <10-second time cushion—move instantly in familiar lines.
   • Employ safe, forced pre-moves when you have a guaranteed reply (e.g. automatic recaptures).
   • Play a few 5 | 3 games this week; the increment trains you to “move, then think” in your opponent’s time.
2. Opening traps—stay principled.
   The miniature versus opatinep ended after 11…Nc2#. It came from ignoring three basic rules:
   1. Do not open with both flank pawn grabs and queen trades before completing development.
   2. Watch for checks and mate threats on every move—ask “what changed?”
   Study five minutes of Queen’s Gambit Accepted traps; you will never fall for that knight fork again.
   
3. Endgame conversion.
   You flagged vs. locusvoodoo with an extra pawn in a won king-and-pawn ending. Learn the “square of the pawn” rule and opposition drills so you can finish these quickly and save clock.

7-day action plan

• Daily: 10 rated puzzles focusing on forks and mate nets. Reinforce pattern speed.
• Review two of your own games per day—win and loss. Use a checklist: opening, tactics, time usage, endgame.
• Watch a short video on the concept of zwischenzug and practice spotting it; it often appears in your tactical positions.
• Play 5 games of 5 | 3 to train a calmer rhythm, then return to 3 | 0.

Keep your confidence high

You’re already out-calculating many opponents; combine that with steadier openings and clock discipline and you’ll blast through the 700 wall. See you at the board, and happy hunting!