MORDA-2000

Quick summary

Nice session — you closed out a clean tactical win with the Italian Game (see the finish below) and your rating trend is trending up (big +102 last month). At the same time several recent losses share common patterns you can fix quickly: king safety, pawn‑grabs that open your king, and tactical oversights when checks exist. Keep doing what worked in the win, and target the recurring weaknesses in the Alekhine games.

Highlighted game — what you did well

Win vs jhez15 in an Italian Game (C50): you played aggressively and forced tactical weaknesses around Black’s king. Key positives:

• You opened the f‑file and used a pawn storm (f4–f5–f6) to create decisive threats — good plan versus an exposed king.
• You spotted and executed a classic bishop + queen attack (Bxh6 and Bxf7+ followups) which disrupted Black’s coordination.
• You finished accurately with Qxg6# once the defender pieces were overloaded — strong calculation under the clock.

Replay the final phase (moves and interactive replay):

Recurring problems seen in recent losses

Most losses this run came from Alekhine Defense games (you play it often). Patterns to fix:

• King exposure after grabbing pawns — e.g. Rxc2 in the Shamer516 game looked tempting but left your king vulnerable to checks and tactical replies. Don’t grab material when your king lacks defenders or when checks can change the position immediately.
• Allowing piece sacrifices on g7 / around the kingside — White repeatedly got access to your king by opening lines or sac’ing on g7/Rxg7. When the opponent has attacking ideas, keep pieces on defensive squares (avoid unnecessary exchanges that remove defenders).
• Missing forcing checks and tactics — several endings show your opponent finding sequences of checks that win material or create decisive passed pawns. Before any capture, scan for checks, captures and threats for both sides.
• Endgame technique under pressure — when behind, avoid passive moves that allow the opponent’s pieces to invade. Trade when you can simplify into a drawable structure; otherwise, keep activity.

Concrete moments to review (do these first)

Study these specific moments from your recent games — they’ll give the biggest ROI:

• Shamer516 — 26...Rxc2? allowed Re7+ followed by a decisive exchange. Ask: “If I take this pawn, do I face a forcing sequence of checks?”
• PM389229 — avoid letting White break open kingside lines (Rxg7 followed by Qg2+). When facing a potential sac on g7, count defenders and consider declining pawn grabs that remove shield pieces.
• Toadfish73 / PeterEZwin games — double‑check moments where a simple defensive retreat or an exchange would reduce White’s attacking coordination. Practice spotting the cheap defensive resources before reacting.

Practical training plan (next 2 weeks)

Short, focused practice that fits rapid play schedules:

• Daily tactics: 10–15 puzzles focused on pins, forks, discovered checks and back‑rank themes (15–20 minutes).
• Opening practice: pick one Alekhine line to simplify your choices. Drill the main defensive ideas for Black — don't hunt pawns if the king is exposed. (1 session of 30 min / week.)
• Game review: after each rated session, pick 1 loss and 1 win and do a 10–15 minute post‑mortem. Ask “What changed my king safety/initiative?”
• Endgame basics: 3 positions per week (king + rook vs king, basic pawn races). Knowing how to hold or convert will stop quick resignations.
• Practical goal for games: play 5 rapid games where you refuse material grabs that open your king — aim to improve safety and reach +0.5 evaluation more often.

Drills and resources — quick checklist

Do these drills repeatedly for fast improvement:

• Tactical set: 3× back‑rank puzzles, 3× mating‑net puzzles, 4× forks/pins each session.
• Opening checklist for Alekhine: central pawn breaks (d5/c5), when to exchange knights, when NOT to grab c2/c3 pawns, prioritize king safety over material.
• Mini‑postmortem routine: “What was the first mistake? Was there a forcing refutation? What single habit caused it?”

Personal plan & checkpoints

Weekly checkpoints to measure progress:

• After 1 week: + Do 5 tactic sessions and review 5 recent losses — note one recurring pattern and one concrete rule to apply in games.
• After 2 weeks: + Play 20 rapid games focusing on king safety; track how many times you declined a pawn/grab and whether that led to better positions.
• Metrics to watch: decrease in material‑grab blunders, fewer mate threats allowed, steadier endgame results. Your recent slope and rating jump show you can improve quickly — keep focused.

Final encouragement

Your win shows you understand attacking plans — that’s a strong advantage. Combine that with better defensive rules (don’t grab when checks exist, keep defenders around your king, calculate forced lines) and you’ll convert more close games into wins. If you want, send one loss you care about and I’ll give a move‑by‑move quick check for the critical moments.