Marc Morgunov FM

Blitz strengths you can build on

You show a strong willingness to enter sharp, tactical play and keep the pressure on opponents. In many games you spot forcing moves and create complications that test your opponent's nerves. Your ability to stay active with active piece play in dynamic positions often yields practical chances, especially when your opponent missteps under time pressure.

Key areas for improvement in blitz

• Time management: in blitz, misallocating time leads to late blunders. Practice a simple thinking routine: spend a fixed amount on the opening move choices, then switch to a clear plan for the middlegame, and reserve a portion of your clock for endgames.
• Blunder prevention: build a quick “blunder check” into your process. After choosing a candidate move, pause for a second to scan for tactical threats, hanging pieces, or obvious forks from the opponent.
• Endgame conversion: several games slip in the later phase. Strengthen basic king-and-pawn endings and small-piece endgames so you can convert which you’re winning, even when time is short.
• Middlegame planning under time pressure: cultivate a simple plan in typical structures (for example, target a weakness, open a file/bullet, or create a pawn break) rather than trying to calculate every branch.
• Consistency across longer horizons: the longer-term trend suggests there’s room to stabilize performance. Aim to translate short-term momentum into steady, repeatable decisions.

Opening strategy and repertoire (practical focus)

Blitz benefits from a compact, practical opening repertoire. Pick 2–3 White responses and 2–3 Black defenses that you understand well and where you know the typical middlegame plans. This reduces decision fatigue and helps you reach clean middlegames more often. Consider simplifying your choices to prioritize clear plans over deep, risky lines. Examples you may explore include a solid e4 setup and a robust d4 setup, with dependable replies as Black to those openings. Caro-Kann Defense and Sicilian Defense can serve as anchors in your study to reinforce solid, plan-oriented play.]]

Training plan to elevate blitz results

• Daily tactical practice: 10–15 minutes of timed puzzles to sharpen calculation under time pressure.
• Post-game reviews: after blitz sessions, identify 2–3 critical moments where a small improvement could have avoided a loss or blunder.
• Endgame basics: dedicate 15 minutes a week to simple endgames (king and pawn against king, or rook endings) to boost conversion in tight clocks.
• Blitz-specific routines: simulate 3+2 or 2+1 blitz sessions with a quick self-check to reinforce your opening plan and early middlegame strategy.
• Opening refinement: adhere to a focused short repertoire and add 1 or 2 typical middlegame plans for each line so you can execute faster in real games.

Progress tracking and concrete next steps

Set a two-week target to implement the above routines. Track three metrics each session: average time spent in the opening, number of blunders per game, and success rate in the middlegame conversion. After two weeks, review which openings consistently reach solid middlegame positions and which endings you convert most reliably, then adjust your repertoire accordingly.

Optional practice enrichment

If you want a ready-made example for focused study, you can explore a compact opening line set such as a simplified Caro-Kann or a controlled Sicilian line. See placeholder resources for targeted opening concepts: Caro-Kann Defense and Sicilian Defense.