What is working well
SirGio1, your recent games show a player who keeps fighting and looks for active pieces. That is a strong base to build on.
- You are comfortable expanding on the queenside with your b-pawn. In the win over sunnychess3, you pushed your b-pawn, gained space, and rerouted your knight to a better square. That patient build-up is a real strength. Review it here: win over sunnychess3.
- You spot tactical moments. The bishop move that trapped the queen in that same game was clean and decisive.
- You stay resourceful when the position gets messy. Against obidatamma, you kept your rook active on the seventh rank and converted a tactical position. The term Rook on the seventh is worth studying more, because that rook activity gave you real pressure.
- You do not give up. In the draw with Jomson, you promoted a pawn and found a stalemate resource. That fighting spirit is valuable. See it here: draw with Jomson-Samosir.
Where the improvement lies
The biggest theme is king safety, especially once the queens leave the board. In the loss to Berryssz, you reached a playable endgame, but your king became boxed in and the final blow was a pawn stepping next to it. Review the finish here: loss to Berryssz.
- When queens come off, pause and ask: where are my king's escape squares? Which enemy pieces can take them away?
- Use your rook to control the first rank and keep enemy pieces from cutting off your king. In that loss, the enemy rook and knight worked together to create a mating net around your king.
- In the win over nammhan, you survived a wild king hunt and won on time, but your king was exposed for many moves. That is a warning sign. Winning on time is fine, but you do not want to rely on it when your king safety is shaky.
- Your quiet first move and early queen side setup in the Van't Kruijs Opening can leave you with less central control. Try planning a clear central break or a faster piece development plan so you are not just reacting.
Practice plan
- Spend 10 minutes a day on endgame king safety drills: king and pawn endings, rook endings, and positions where one side has a dangerous passed pawn.
- Before every move in the endgame, check enemy pawn pushes and knight jumps near your king. The pawn mate you suffered is exactly the kind of pattern to recognize early.
- Review your winning games too. In the win over sunnychess3, you were patient and precise. Repeating that calm build-up will help you convert more good positions.
- When you play the Van't Kruijs style setup, decide on a clear plan by move five: either challenge the center or finish development quickly. Do not let the position become passive.
Overall, your tactical alertness and fighting spirit are carrying you. Tighten up king safety in the endgame and add a clearer opening plan, and those close games will start falling your way more often.