Linda Shayman

Hi Linda!

Great job keeping an active schedule and already scoring several powerful tactical wins. Below is a custom review built from your last 10 live-games (≈550-580 Elo). I’ve focused on the recurring patterns that will give you the fastest rating gains.

What you already do well

• Tactical alertness: You spot forks and mating nets quickly (e.g. 24. Qxb7# in your Center Game win and 35. e8=Q# in the King’s-Pawn game).
• Willingness to sacrifice: Exchanges like 17…Bxf1 in the Italian avoid passive play and convert initiative into material.
• Confidence in open positions: Most of your wins arise once files open and pieces start to coordinate. Keep this attacking spirit!

Key habits to tune up

1. King safety over pawn grabs.
   In the loss to shimbiris you played …Qxb2 on move 8, but your king was still in the center and you soon fell behind in development. Use the “three YESes” test before taking a pawn:
   • YES, my king is safe?
   • YES, I stay ahead/equal in development?
   • YES, the pawn directly helps my plan?
   If any answer is “no”, consider a calmer move.
2. Restrict early f- and g-pawn pushes.
   In half of your recent losses you moved f- or g-pawns before completing development (…f6 / f5 / g5). These moves weaken dark squares and cost tempi. Try the rule of thumb: “No pawn moves in front of my king until I castle.” Exceptions exist, but following it for 30 games will boost your survival rate.
3. Time management.
   You flagged once from a completely winning position (vs.Sptra02). Practical drill: play 5-minute games where you must hit 00:20 on the clock before move 20—this forces quick, simple decisions.
4. Simplify when ahead.
   Several wins still featured unnecessary complications after you were up a full rook. Whenever you are +4 or more by material, look for a trade of queens or piece-exchange to convert smoothly.

Opening tune-ups (next two weeks)

Mini-lesson: When material matters more than initiative

Compare the following two positions:

1. Game vs Pongo1610 (you won): after 13…Rxd5 you removed a key defender and kept the queens active—initiative paid off.
2. Game vs felix-peoria (you lost): after 14…Bb4 you grabbed a pawn but let White finish development and castle long; two moves later your king was still in the middle and pressure mounted.
   Take-away: If your opponent is ahead in development, grab time, not pawns.

Your current peak ratings

• Rapid: 826 (2022-12-27)    • Blitz:

Training plan (15-30 min per session)

• 10 mins: Tactics—solve 5 rated puzzles slowly, writing down the motif (fork, pin, etc.).
• 10 mins: Endgame flash cards—king + pawn vs king; basic rook endings.
• 10 mins: Play one 10 | 0 game focusing on the two opening systems above. After each game, replay it once without engine and identify one better move for both sides.

Progress trackers

One PGN to keep studying

The following attacking game shows excellent coordination and is worth replaying once a week:

Next steps

1. Play 20 games following the “no early f-/g-pawn” rule and record the result.
2. After each session, write one sentence on how you handled time management.
3. Message me once you feel the difference—we’ll add the next layer of strategy.

Good luck and enjoy the journey! – Coach