Niranjan Navalgund FM

Hi Niranjan, here’s some tailored feedback to help you climb to the next level!

1. Snapshot of Your Form

• Current feel: powerful tactical vision and fighting spirit, but a few recurring practical issues are costing points.
• 2732 (2020-02-06) – closing in again; a fresh push to a new peak is realistic.
• Performance rhythm:

2. What You’re Doing Well

• Opening variety & creativity – Rossolimo (B30), Catalan-style E00, and Ruy Lopez as both colors give you a wide and healthy repertoire.
• Initiative-first mindset – you willingly sacrifice pawns (e.g. 12…Nxe4! vs MatyChess1) to seize activity.
• Resourcefulness in complications – the save in the daily game after 28.Ne5 Qxh4+ shows confidence in messy positions.

3. Patterns That Hold You Back

• Time-pressure technique
  • Many blitz losses (vs Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian, burbur555) featured <10 seconds while still in complex positions.
  • Even winning endgames (vs Mackster23) drift when you let the increment do all the work.
• Endgame conversion
  • Against GMKrikor you reached an equal rook ending but slipped into a lost pawn race.
  • Key habit: simplify to clearly winning technical endings sooner; avoid “one more trick” when clocks are low.
• Structural decisions vs strong opposition
  • In several Ruy Lopez games you played …b5 & …c5 too early, leaving weak squares (c6, a5).
  • London-type loss to Caracternin123: pawn structure deteriorated after 15…g5?! Plan before pushing wing pawns.

4. Action Plan

1. Dedicated 15-minute “Endgame Sprint”
   Three times a week solve 5 positions with ≤2 pieces each side. Focus: rook-endgame technique, conversion with extra pawn.
2. Clock discipline drill
   • Play 5 games of 3|2 only moving when ≥10 seconds; resign if you dip below. Forces faster intuitive play.
   • Review & tag blunders made above 15 seconds – those are purely chess, not time.
3. Opening hygiene
   • For Black in the Lopez choose one main setup (…a6 …Be7 …d6) and stick to it for 30 games; ban early …c5 unless you’ve castled.
   • Write a one-sentence goal for each opening line (e.g. “In Catalan I reach a symmetrical but slightly better IQP endgame”).
4. Critical-moment pause
   • Borrow from Silman’s “Imbalances” method: when position changes phase, ask “What did the last move alter?” before replying. 10-second investment saves blunders.

5. Illustrative Moments

a) Good technique – clean finish vs toughplaya (Daily)

You used a passed h-pawn as a decoy while converting on the queenside – model endgame play.

b) Missed chance – blitz vs GMKrikor

After 30…Rfe8 the simpler 30…fxe5 31.Kxe5 Rce8+ forces liquidation into a drawish rook ending, avoiding the later pawn avalanche.

6. Glossary Refresh

7. Keep the Momentum!

Your tactical eye already beats 2600-level blitz players; sharpening technique and time-handling will convert many “almost” games into wins. Track progress weekly, celebrate small gains, and ping me any time you’d like a deep dive into a specific opening or endgame theme.

Good luck and enjoy the grind!