Quick overview — what I liked
Nice fighting spirit in these blitz games. You create tactical complications, you keep pieces active and you convert concrete advantages — especially in the game versus Maksym Dubnevych. Your willingness to go for forcing sequences and to use rooks actively is a big plus in blitz.
- Good at creating immediate threats and forcing lines (checks, trades, captures) that complicate the opponent’s defence.
- You look for active rook play and open files — that’s exactly what wins blitz games.
- You find strong tactical shots in the middlegame rather than trying to outmaneuver slowly — energetic style suits fast time controls.
Key moment from your recent win (practical conversion)
Sequence that shows your strength: you created a passed pawn break and forced open lines, then used checks and rook activity to win material and convert. Study the transition from the forcing tactics into a clear plan to simplify and convert.
- Open the line for your rooks — you did it and then traded into a winning material/endgame pattern.
- You used checks to keep the enemy king exposed and never let the defender reorganize their pieces.
- One thing to watch: the opponent later promoted a pawn in the endgame — conversion was successful but the continued fight let counterplay persist.
Replay the critical phase here (focus on the tactical sequence that decides the game):
[[Pgn|17.e6|cxd4|18.exf7+|Kxf7|19.Qh5+|g6|20.Qxd5+|Kg7|21.Qxd4+|Kf7|22.Qd5+|Kg7|23.Be3|Bf5|24.Qe5+|Kf7|25.Rad1|Bg7|26.Rxd8|Bxe5|27.Rxa8|Rxa8|28.fxe5|Bxc2|29.Bd4|Bf5|30.Rf1|Ke6|31.g4|Bxg4|32.Rf6+|Kd5|33.Kf2|Be6|34.Ke3|fen|8/B7/4b3/8/2p1k3/2P5/PK4q1/8|orientation|black|autoplay|false]Also, good job finishing under pressure from the clock — but try to avoid getting to that point (see time-management tips below).
Key moment from your recent loss (what to fix)
In the loss to Trig_King you allowed the opponent's pieces to penetrate and finish with a decisive back-rank/rook tactic. The final combination exploited a passive setup and lack of blocking pieces on the critical file.
- When the opponent ramps up pressure on a file or rank, ask: "can I trade pieces or cover the critical square?" If you can’t, simplify immediately or create luft for the king.
- Watch for forced mate motifs (back-rank, discovered check followed by infiltration). In the critical phase you could have looked for a blocking move or a trade to remove the attacker.
- Time pressure played a part — quick defensive moves are easier to miss. If you're low on time, prioritize safe moves that remove immediate tactical threats.
Review the final tactical sequence here to see the penetration and final back-rank finish:
[[Pgn|42.Rd2+|Ke5|43.Bd3|Nd4|44.Bh4|Nf5|45.Bd8|Kf4|46.Bb6|Ne3+|47.Kf2|Ng4+|48.Ke2|Bc3|49.Rc2|Re1#|fen|8/8/1B2p1P1/8/5kn1/p1cB4/P1R1K3/4r3|orientation|white|autoplay|false]Recurring patterns to work on
- Time management: you often reach the final phase with very little clock. Practice keeping 20–30 seconds as a buffer in a blitz game — that buys you a chance to calculate the last tactics.
- Back-rank vulnerability: avoid leaving the back rank undefended when rooks and the queen are off the board; create luft or rook checks/trades when opponent threatens infiltration.
- Endgame technique vs pawn races: you handle tactics well, but sometimes you allow passed pawns to queen (the opponent got a promotion in one game). Drill rook+pawn and king+pawn endings so you can neutralize opponents’ pawn races faster.
- Defensive simplification: when under pressure, evaluate quick trade options to reduce the opponent's initiative instead of trying to hold everything.
Concrete 4-week blitz plan (actionable)
- Daily (15–20 minutes): Tactics — focus on motifs you missed (back-rank mates, discovered checks, knight forks). Use mixed time controls but include 2–3 sets of 3-minute tactics.
- 3× week (20 minutes): Endgame practice — rook endgames and king+pawn races. Run 10 short exercises per session.
- Daily (10 minutes): One-game review — pick the last loss and do a 5–10 minute post-mortem: look for the single defensive move that would have kept you equal.
- 2× week (15 minutes): Opening refresh — reinforce the key ideas in the lines you play (for example, the Scotch-ish structures you reached — see Scotch Game — and typical Sicilian setups). Learn 2–3 concrete plans, not long theory lists.
- Play sessions: 10 rapid games (10+5) per week to practice converting advantages without collapsing on the clock; then 20 blitz (3+2) games to keep sharpness.
Blitz checklist (quick, use during games)
- Opponent’s last move — what immediate threats does it create? (checks, captures, promotions)
- Can I trade to reduce pressure? If yes and the position is uncomfortable, trade.
- Are any of my pieces hanging or overloaded? Count attackers/defenders quickly.
- Do I have back-rank issues? If so, create luft, trade rooks, or give a check to gain time.
- Time check: under 30s? Switch to safe, practical moves (block, exchange, activate king) rather than deep calculations.
Homework (next 7 days)
- Do 30 themed tactics (back-rank/discovered checks) — mark the ones you miss and redo them the next day.
- Run 10 rook-endgame exercises (10–15 minutes total). Focus on the defense technique against passed pawns.
- Pick one recent loss (I suggest the one vs Trig_King) and annotate 10 critical moves: alternatives, candidate moves, and the one defensive idea you missed.
- Play 10 games at 10+5 and practice using the first 10 seconds to set a plan rather than instantly moving.
Want a deeper review?
If you like, I can:
- Provide a full move-by-move annotated review of one of these games (your choice).
- Build a 2-week training schedule tailored to your openings (Scotch Game, Sicilian ideas) and weaknesses.
- Generate a short tactics set focused only on motifs you missed this weekend.
Tell me which game you want annotated (the win vs Maksym Dubnevych or the loss vs Trig_King) and I’ll prepare an annotated replay.