Mark Machin Rivera IM

Mark, here’s a tailored performance review and improvement plan

Overall Trend:

1. What you are already doing well

• Active, flexible openings. Your preference for hyper-modern lines (Reti/English setups, Saragossa & Modern Defence) keeps positions fluid and often sidesteps heavy theory.
• Tactical alertness. Recent wins show you spotting intermediate moves such as 21.Nb6+ and converting minor-piece activity into material (see diagram 20-25 in the first PGN below).
• Piece co-ordination in the middlegame. You regularly double rooks on open files and swing them to the 7th rank (e.g. …Rd8–d4–g4 manoeuvres), creating multiple threats.

2. Key areas to address

• Time management. Four of your last five losses were on time despite playable positions. Getting flagged at move 30-40 is costing 30-40 rating points a session.
• Modern Defence under pressure. In multiple losses with …g6 you fell behind after early e4–e5/d4–d5 breaks. Opponents exploited the diagonal a2-g8 and the weak dark squares.
• Conversion technique. When clearly better you sometimes “go hunting” instead of simplifying; positions vs trollingg and Fronk98 were still winning but the clock beat you.
• Early king safety as Black. Games against 1.e4 where you delayed …Nf6/…e5 showed your king drifting on e8/g8 with loose pawns (see loss to rudolfjun2005).

3. Three focus drills for the next 30 days

1. Clock discipline drill (15 minutes, daily)
   • Play one 10 + 5 game, forbid yourself to drop below 2:00 on the clock before move 25.
   • The moment you hit 2:00, switch to “simple moves only” (exchange, check, capture, threat).
   • Goal: automatic time awareness.
2. Anti-Modern mini-repertoire (2 hours total)
   • Prepare a solid backup against 1.e4 (e.g. Caro-Kann line with …c6/d5) and against 1.d4 (simple Queen’s Gambit Declined setup).
   • Idea: vary your Black choices to avoid opponents steering into your weakest structure.
3. Endgame flashcards (10 positions, weekly)
   • Rook + 3 vs 3, R+P vs R, and basic opposite-coloured bishop endings.
   • Solve each from both sides under 3-minute limit; keeps calculation sharp for time scrambles.

4. In-game checkpoints

5. Illustrative moments

• Winning conversion with precise checks – see 20…O-O-O – 29.Nxd8 from your victory vs ChipanaK:

6. Quick tips for your very next session

• Play two warm-up puzzles before clicking “Play”.
• Add an increment (3 + 2 or 5 + 3) until flag losses drop below 10 % of games.
• Versus 1.e4 as Black: test one classical defence this week, record the first ten games, and review with engine.

Keep enjoying the creative positions you generate, Mark. With firmer time control habits and a sturdier backup opening, 2600 blitz is within reach.

– Coach