metalox78

Hi metalox78, here is some personalised feedback based on your recent blitz games.

What you are already doing well

• Consistent Opening Repertoire. As Black you rely on the Caro-Kann (…c6 & …d5) and against 1.d4 you answer with solid systems (…b6, Englund-style gambits, etc.). Having a fixed repertoire in 3-minute games gives you more clock for the middlegame.
• Tactical alertness. The miniature below from your win vs elcolector shows you spotting the powerful 23…Ndf4! and finishing with …Qxc2#. Quick, forcing play is an asset in blitz.
  
• Converting material advantages. Several of your wins feature clean “technical” finishes once you are ahead, e.g. the exchange-sacrifice followed by push-promotion vs Hangman79.

Main areas to focus on next

1. Time management.
   Half of your recent losses were on time in roughly equal or even winning positions (e.g. vs marcoslagbas, Six8bartend, Shuriken7). Try to:
   • Spend the opening moves nearly instantly – you know the lines.
   • Use the “buddy system”: every 5 moves glance at your clock; if you are under 40 sec, simplify or enter an endgame you can pre-move.
   • Study practical endgames so that you can blitz them out with confidence. time management
2. Pawn-structure discipline.
   In several defeats (Bird’s Opening & Advance Caro-Kann) you pushed pawns aggressively without completing development, leaving dark-square holes and backward pieces. Before advancing a wing pawn ask: “Does this create a new weakness on the colour complex behind it?”
3. Critical-moment calculation.
   You usually see the first tactic, but occasionally miss the second one. Example: after 20…Qh2+ (Bird’s game) the follow-up was winning, yet too much time was spent and the attack fizzled. Train short, forced sequences (“tactics in 3-4 ply”) daily. candidate moves, zwischenzug

Opening-specific tips

• Caro-Kann Exchange (4…Nxd2). In the win vs KingScrew you played the modern …Qe6 & …Rad8 plan – good. In the loss vs Six8bartend you allowed White’s kingside pawn-storm. Consider 6…c5 or 7…cxd4 to hit the centre before it rolls.
• Bird’s/Englund gambit lines. Your piece play is fun, but don’t let it cost you the clock. Memorise 2-3 critical ideas (…Qh4+, …Bb4+) so you can play them rapidly.
• London-system as White. The early h3/Bf4 move-order works, yet you sometimes miss the typical e4 break. Drill a couple of model games where White opens the centre once Black’s bishop leaves c8.

Action plan for the coming week

1. 10-minute tactics each day (rated puzzles at ~1800-2000).
2. Play 5 games of 5 + 2 (slightly slower) focusing only on not flagging.
3. Analyse one of your time-loss games without engine; write down two ways you could have saved 20 seconds.
4. Revisit the basic king-and-pawn vs king endings until you can play them nearly blindfold.

Quick stats & trends

Peak blitz rating: 1991 (2021-01-27)

Keep up the good work!

You already demonstrate strong tactical instincts and a clear opening repertoire. Tightening up clock handling and a bit more structural awareness will push you past the 1900 barrier soon. Good luck!