Konstantin Nikologorskiy IM

Overview of your recent daily games

You’ve shown solid willingness to test sharp openings and you’ve demonstrated good tactical awareness in several wins. Your openings data indicates versatility across a range of modern lines, and your recent track record shows you can convert advantages into wins when you stay focused in the middle game and avoid over-ambitious pawn pushes. There are clear moments of strong calculation, especially in lines that lead to concrete tactical chances.

What you did well

• You handled aggressive opening choices with good piece activity and clean development, keeping your king safe while generating pressure on key files and diagonals.
• You showed tactical sharpness in strategic middlegames, often creating forcing sequences that challenge your opponent’s plans.
• You converted a notable tactic into a winning finish in at least one game, demonstrating your ability to spot and execute concrete combinations under time pressure.
• Your openings versatility gives you flexibility to respond to different setups, which is valuable for adapting to opponents’ ideas.

Areas to improve

• Focus on conversion: when you gain a small edge, work on a clear plan to convert it to a larger advantage rather than trading too many pieces and drifting into drawn positions.
• Time management: balance your clock so you don’t overthink critical moments and allow yourself extra time for the most instructive positions.
• Endgame technique: practice common endgames that arise from your openings to ensure you can press advantages all the way to a win, not just an equal or unclear ending.
• Positional decisions after exchanges: in some middlegames, aim for simpler structures that retain your activity and limit your opponent’s counterplay rather than chasing complex, uncertain lines.

Opening performance snapshot

Your openings show solid results across several major lines, including the Sicilian Najdorf variation, the Moscow variation, the French Advance variation, and the Giuoco Piano. This breadth is a strength, but you’ll benefit from deepening a smaller set of lines to build a clear, repeatable middlegame plan for each. Be mindful of lines that have produced draws or losses and prepare straightforward, practical plans against them.

Practical next steps and a simple plan

• Choose two openings to deepen in the next month (for example, Sicilian Najdorf and Giuoco Piano) and study their typical middlegame plans. Create a short repertoire note for each with a few go-to ideas you can rely on in the early middlegame.
• Engage in daily tactics practice (about 15–20 minutes) focusing on patterns that recur in your openings, such as back-rank motifs, tactic nets, and forcing lines that lead to clear material gains or checkmates.
• After each daily game, write a three-bullet recap: what went well, what didn’t, and one concrete adjustment you will try in the next game.
• Practice endgames relevant to your openings. Learn a few solid rook endgame ideas and common pawn endgames to improve your conversion rate in longer games.
• Keep an eye on time usage during the opening phase: set a rough plan to avoid spending excessive time on early moves and keep a reserve for critical junctures.

Optional study aids

If you’d like, I can tailor a compact study pack for your two chosen openings with practical plans and a handful of example positions to practice. You can also share your next game PGNs and I’ll tailor notes after reviewing them.