mbdida WFM

Hi mbdida – personalized performance review

Current peak: 2201 (2021-09-29)
Typical openings: English/Catalan set-ups with c4 g3 Bg2 as White; Modern, Grünfeld and QGA structures as Black.

What you are already doing well

• Opening familiarity – You steer games into English/Catalan territory almost by reflex, reaching comfortable middlegames quickly. Notice how smoothly you reached a favourable structure in your last win:
  
  
  
• Pawn breaks & space grabbing – Repeated a4-a5/b4 thrusts demonstrate good board awareness and willingness to seize space on the queenside.
• Tactical alertness – Shots such as 17.Nxc5! (above) and 21.Rxf8+! show that you are actively looking for forcing continuations.
• Converting advantages – Many wins end before move 30; once you seize the initiative you rarely let go.

Key improvement areas

1. King safety vs. pawn storms
   Recent losses feature opponents opening lines against your king (…g5-g4 vs you, or your own g4/f4 over-extensions). Strengthen your defensive technique:
   • Do a quick “pawn-shield” checklist each move: how many files are about to open in front of my king?
   • Study model games on the fianchetto bishop exchange – understand when to keep / trade your dark-squared bishop.
2. Time management
   You have several results decided by flag or abandonment while the position was playable. Adopt a “move-every-5-seconds” rule during quiet positions to bank increment, and use premoves in forced recaptures.
3. Handling counter-punches
   After successful pawn grabs (e.g. 24.Rxc6 in the win vs chessmaximumkrop) you sometimes leave pieces loose and allow Zwischenzug tactics in return. Insert prophylactic moves – especially rook lifts or king steps – before cashing in material.
4. Endgame conversion
   In the loss to efraimmmmmm you resigned an equal rook-and-pawn ending a pawn down with obvious drawing chances. Review fundamental rook endings (Philidor, Lucena) to improve confidence.

Targeted study plan (4-week micro-cycle)

Quick reference checklist before each game

• Opening plan? (If English: where will my c4-pawn break? If Modern: where do I place the c8-bishop?)
• King safety – pawn shield intact?
• Loose pieces? (Both sides!)
• Time left > opponent’s?

Keep up the dynamic play, patch the defensive holes, and breaking 2100 will be a matter of weeks. Good luck!