Przemyslaw Skalik IM

Quick summary

Nice run — your rapid record is outstanding (69–2–1) and your opening results are very strong across many lines (Scotch, Caro‑Kann, Sicilian, etc.). You convert chances, you win long technical games and you finish cleanly when the opponent mishandles the defense. Below are focused notes from your most recent games and a short, practical plan to keep improving.

Replay your most recent win

Here’s the game you most recently won as Black (Caro‑Kann style positions and a successful conversion). Replay it to check the critical moments:

Game viewer (final position shown):

What you do well (strengths to keep)

• Opening preparation: you consistently reach comfortable middlegame structures — excellent results in lines like the Scotch Game and Caro-Kann Defense.
• Conversion: when you obtain a material or structural advantage you convert it methodically — look at how you pushed passed pawns and active rooks in recent wins.
• Tactical alertness: you find concrete tactics (captures on e6/c6, rook sacrifices or infiltration) that decide the game.
• Endgame technique: long games show good king activity and correct plan execution (pushing passed pawns, coordinating rooks/queen).
• Mental resilience: very high win rate — you don’t tilt and you finish opponents off instead of letting chances slip away.

Where to improve (high-impact fixes)

Focus on these repeating patterns — small changes here will give the biggest rating lift.

• Time management under pressure — several games show prolonged play while the clock ticks down. Practice finishing games with less time and using increment when available. Tip: spend a bit less time on routine developing moves and reserve thinking for critical moments.
• Choice of exchanges — you sometimes trade into positions where the opponent gets counterplay (passed pawns or active minor pieces). Before exchanging, ask: “Does this simplify to a clearly winning endgame or give the defender counterchances?”
• Calculation depth in sharp moments — keep checking alternative candidate moves. A quick scan for opponent threats after each move pays off (check for forks, pins, discovered checks).
• Opening transpositions and move orders — your repertoire is excellent; tighten move orders to avoid one-off surprises and make your opponents uncomfortable earlier in the game (especially in lines of the Caro-Kann Defense).

Concrete 4‑week training plan

Short, focused daily tasks to convert strengths into stable gains.

• Daily (20–30 minutes): 15 tactical puzzles with emphasis on forks, pins, and clean tactical sequences. Increase complexity gradually.
• 3× per week (30 minutes): One endgame theme — week 1: rook and pawn basics (Lucena/Philidor ideas), week 2: king and pawn, week 3: minor-piece vs pawns, week 4: practical conversion with queen + pawn.
• 2× per week (45–60 minutes): Analyze one of your wins with an engine: find the turn in the game where evaluations shifted, and note alternative plans you missed.
• Weekly (play): Two practice rapid games with increment (10+5 if possible). Force yourself to use less time in the opening and spend on critical moments only.
• Opening maintenance (2×30 minutes/week): choose one line (example: Caro-Kann Defense) and go 5–10 moves deeper: watch for typical pawn breaks and one surprise move to add to your repertoire.

Game review checklist (use after every game)

• Identify the moment the evaluation swung. Was it a tactical oversight, a strategic inaccuracy, or time trouble?
• List one repeating mistake across several games (e.g., premature exchange, weak back rank, passive bishop) and set a daily micro‑drill to fix it.
• Save one key position and practice it: play both sides for 5 minutes, then consult the engine to see where your human plan differed.
• Note three “what I did well” items to reinforce good habits (e.g., opening move order, converting an extra pawn, creating a passed pawn).

Practical tips before your next rapid session

• At move 1–6: follow your opening plan quickly — don’t create new problems early. Trust the system you know.
• After every candidate move: check for opponent threats and hanging pieces. A 5–10 second scan will save you from tactical shots.
• If ahead materially: simplify carefully. Exchange pieces if it leaves you with a clear winning pawn endgame or a protected passed pawn.
• If low on time: switch to safety-first moves that preserve the advantage instead of hunting for flashy wins.

Notes & follow ups

Keep tracking your one‑month slope (you had a small dip recently). The plan above should arrest that and turn it into a positive trend. If you want, send one of your games and I’ll annotate the turning points move‑by‑move.

If you want to rewatch specific opponents from recent wins, try these profiles:

• Most recent victory vs piterpiper5
• Earlier mate vs puszek910
• Long technical win vs dawid2014k