Nguyen Thi Mai Hung WGM

Feedback for Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (ntmh281)

What you’re already doing well

• Consistent opening strategy. Your Queen’s-Pawn + g3 systems and the French Defence as Black give you structurally sound positions and keep you in familiar pawn-structures.
  • Game vs terrryy16 shows excellent use of the Nd5 outpost and centralisation (9 Nd5!, 11 Rd1!) leading to a long-term space plus initiative.
  • In several wins you demonstrated the classic “pressure–liquidate–convert” model: trade into a better endgame and push the passed pawn (e.g. 40 exf5–46 Qg8#).
• Tactical alertness under pressure. Sequences like 24 Bxd6+!! (removing the defender) and 45 f8=Q+! illustrate that you calculate forcing lines accurately when the clock is low.
• Psychological resilience. After a string of time-losses on 24 May you immediately bounced back with a clean mating attack the same afternoon—a good competitive mindset.

Main areas to improve

1. Time management.
   Five of your last six defeats were “lost on time” with playable or even favourable positions. Try the 30-30-40 rule: aim to keep
   • 70 % of your time for moves 1-15 (opening familiarity = quick moves),
   • 20 % for moves 16-30 (critical middlegame), and
   • 10 % for the conversion phase.
   A physical cue—tap the clock with your off-hand before each calculation—often prevents drifting into deep thought early.
2. Handling counter-play in the French Defence.
   The loss against pronesss featured …f6 and …c6 ideas from your opponent that undermined your centre. Study the Classical French in the Delayed-Exchange line; specifically rehearse positions after 10 Bg5 f6 11 Bh4 Nb6 to ensure you know when to challenge with …e5 or reroute the knight to d6.
3. Piece coordination in the Slav/Colle structures.
   Against euphoria_chess the manoeuvre …Bc2–…Bb3 distracted your rooks and allowed …Rc5–…Rac8 doubling. When playing against …Bf5 and …c5 remember the thematic break dxc5 followed by e4 only works if the c-file is firmly controlled. A quick prophylactic Re1 and Nf1–g3 preventing …Bh7 is often smoother.
4. Endgame confidence.
   The game vs usukak10 reached an equal rook-and-pawn endgame but you flagged while manoeuvring. Drill the “two-rook vs rook” and “rook behind the passed pawn” endings so you can trust your reflexes and save time.

Suggested study plan (next 4 weeks)

Week	Main Goal	Concrete Task
1	Opening speed	Write a one-page “cheat-sheet” for each of your main lines; spend 15 minutes/day playing opening-only sparring games.
2	Typical tactics	40 puzzles/day filtered for French & Slav pawn-structures; prioritise motifs: interference, zwischenzug, and Zugzwang.
3	Endgame muscle-memory	Use the Nalimov set or Lichess Drill: finish 100 rook-vs-rook + pawn endings with a 15-second increment.
4	Clock discipline	Play 20 blitz games where you must move within 10 seconds for the first 12 moves; review only time usage, not result.

Diagnostic charts

For a quick visual of when you play best, review:
•

– reveals a dip during late-evening sessions; consider scheduling key games earlier.
• – note the spike on Wednesdays; maybe align training games there.

Key stats

Your historical best: 2538 (2024-06-16). Target: +35 points by end of next quarter.

Inspirational moment

Replay your recent miniature for motivation:

Next steps

Implement the week-by-week plan, keep the clock discipline drills, and touch base after 50 blitz games for a fresh review. Small, consistent improvements will push you well past the 2350 mark.

Good luck, and see you at the board!