Александр Копылов

Quick summary for Александр

Nice session — you converted winning chances in several recent games and scored clean tactical blows (for example in the win vs Sunflower). The weaknesses that cost you games were mostly time management and a handful of defensive coordination errors in complex positions. Below are targeted observations and a short training plan you can use in the next week.

What you did well

• Opening familiarity and comfort — you steer into your pet lines quickly and get an understandable middlegame (Petrov and QGD lines are clearly in your toolbox; see Petrov's Defense).
• Tactical awareness — in the win vs Sunflower you saw the pawn grab and then the follow-up that turned into a killer blow (the game ends after 22...Nf4). You spot tactics when the position simplifies to concrete targets.
• Active piece play — you like to keep rooks and queens active, creating threats and generating counterplay rather than passivity.
• Endgame conversion in relatively simple winning positions — several wins show you can convert with rook/queen activity and active king placement.

Where to improve (high-impact areas)

• Time management / zero-increment games: multiple losses were decided by the clock (e.g. loss vs Vinzent Spitzl was "won on time"). With 3|0 blitz you must simplify decision-making under 10–20 seconds. Practice choosing safe, practical moves earlier in the turn.
• Defensive coordination in tactical/closed middlegames — in a few losses your pieces become uncoordinated and the opponent exploits back-rank/queening checks or infiltration squares. Spend a minute to check for opponent counterplay before grabbing material.
• Pawn-structure awareness: avoid creating isolated or backward pawns that give the opponent clear blockade/outpost options. In several games the opponent fixed a pawn weakness and attacked around it.
• Simplification timing: when ahead in material or position, exchange into a clearly winning endgame rather than keeping complications when your clock is low.

Concrete next-step plan (this week)

• Daily 20–30 minute blitz block (3|0) with a strict rule: if less than 20 seconds on the clock, switch to "one idea" mode — make moves that do one of: develop, trade, or threaten a forced tactic. This reduces time-sink thinking.
• 15 minutes tactical session (puzzles) focusing on forks, discovered attacks and queen forks — those patterns pay off in your Petrov and QGD games.
• Two post-game quick reviews (5–8 minutes each) immediately after games you lose: identify the single turning move you missed and write down the defensive resource you overlooked. Keep a small notebook or file.
• Study one typical endgame pattern (rook + pawn vs rook, or queen vs rook tactics) for 20 minutes — converting and avoiding stalemate traps matter a lot in blitz.

Drills and micro-practices (10–30 minutes)

• Speed tactics: 2×5 minute sessions solving 20–30 easy/middling tactics — goal: 90%+ accuracy under time pressure.
• Play 5 rapid (5|0) games where, at move 10, you force yourself to pick a single long-term plan (kingside attack, minority attack, central break). This trains quicker plan selection in blitz.
• Practice "one-check" defense: run through positions where the opponent has checks/infiltration — train the habit of scanning for enemy checks before every move.

Practical in-game checklist (use every game)

• Before you move: 1) Are my pieces defended? 2) Any immediate opponent threats or checks? 3) Can I trade to reduce complexity if my clock is low?
• If <20s on clock: prefer moves that do one clear job (develop, trade, attack a loose piece). Avoid long combinations unless forced.
• When ahead materially: simplify. Exchange pieces, keep an eye on passed pawns and rook activity.

Example position to review

Replay the win vs Sunflower — look at the moment you captured the b2 pawn and how you followed up with tactical pressure. Replaying helps internalize the motifs.

Notes on your opening choices & stats

• You have deep experience in Petrov, QGD and Nimzo lines — use that: keep your repertoire but add one simple anti-counter plan for each line so you don’t burn time recalling theory.
• Your Strength Adjusted Win Rate is nearly 0.50 — that shows you perform well vs similarly strong opposition. Small improvements in clock handling and simple defensive checks will raise your score noticeably.

Final pointers

• Make time management your top micro-habit: 5 seconds extra per move on average across a game changes outcomes dramatically in 3|0.
• Keep doing quick reviews after losses — identifying one repeating mistake (time trouble, hanging a piece, passive bishop) is more effective than broad study.
• If you want, share 1–2 lost positions that felt unclear and I’ll give concrete move-by-move ideas for those exact moments.

Good work — you’re close to converting more wins consistently. Small changes to how you handle the clock and a short tactical/endgame focus will pay off fast.