Maria Leks WFM

Hi Maria Leks! – Personal Training Feedback

1. Snapshot of Your Strengths

• Tactical awareness: Your wins in Three-Check and Crazyhouse show sharp calculation and an eye for forcing lines.
• Initiative-oriented openings: You start many games with 1.Nf3 or 1.e4 and quickly develop pieces to active squares, keeping opponents under pressure.
• Psychology: You are not afraid of rating differences and often seize the initiative early, a valuable mindset in competitive play.
• Peak performance: – impressive ceiling that confirms your potential.

2. Sample of a Well-Played Attack

The following miniature shows clean conversion of a material plus while still chasing the third check. Use it as a reminder that simplicity can win fast games:

3. Key Themes to Improve

1. Time management. Four of your recent losses were due to flagging in advantageous or equal positions, often against lower-rated players.
   Action plan:
   • Adopt a simple thinking routine (candidate moves → blunder check) to speed up decision-making.
   • Play a few sessions with +increment (e.g. 3 + 2) and consciously leave at least 15 – 20 s on the clock after each move.
2. End-game conversion. In multiple odds-games you reached winning positions but could not convert, often missing zugzwang or underestimating passed pawns.
   Action plan:
   • Study king-and-pawn fundamentals and the “Lucena” & “Philidor” rook endings.
   • Play some 10 + 5 games focusing on simplifying into favorable endings.
3. Prophylaxis & defense. Losses against Karolina Gawerska show that when under pressure you tend to push pawns near your king without a clear plan, weakening the back rank.
   Action plan:
   • Before advancing a flank pawn, ask “What will my opponent do next?” – classic prophylaxis question.
   • Train with puzzles set to “defensive” theme and force yourself to find opponent threats first.
4. Opening depth. Your early piece play is lively, but some sidelines (e.g. 3.a3 in Four Knights, or early

   h-pawn thrusts

   ) are costing tempi.
   Action plan:
   • Add a structured main line to your repertoire such as the Queen’s Gambit as White and the Caro-Kann as Black to balance tactical instincts with solid pawn structures.
   • Review 15-move theoretical tabs once a week and play training games focused on those lines.

4. Performance Rhythm

Pay attention to when you win most frequently:

And monitor consistency over the week:

5. Next-Week Training Checklist

1. 10 tactical puzzles / day (mix of mate-in-3 and “find the defense”).
2. 3 rapid games (15 + 10) focusing on time discipline.
3. Review endings from Capablanca for technique inspiration.
4. Annotate one of your losses and identify the moment a safe move was available but overlooked.

6. Motivation Corner

You already demonstrate creativity and fighting spirit. Strengthen the technical areas above and you will soon push past your current peak and stabilise around a higher level.

Good luck, and enjoy every move!