Spartak Grigorian IM

Hi Spartak!

Great fighting spirit in your recent sessions. I have reviewed the win and loss batches you sent and distilled the main patterns that will help you climb to the next rating bracket.

Quick Snapshot

• Current personal best:
• Typical session rhythm:
• Week-to-week consistency:

What You’re Doing Well

1. Initiative-oriented play. In your English / Reti structures you often grab space with c4-d4 and follow up with active minor pieces (e.g. the game vs. Dalmatynczyk101 starting 1 c4 c6 2 Nf3 d5 3 e3).
2. Conversion skills when ahead. The miniature against Soundwave_Chess (45-move resignation after 1–0) shows you converting a material plus without allowing counterplay—nice!
3. Tactical alertness. Motifs such as Nb5-c7, Nxd5, and exchange sacs on c6/c3 appear repeatedly, displaying good pattern recognition.

Priority Improvements

1. Time Management

You lost four games on time in winning or equal positions. Adopt a “time anchor” routine:

• Glance at the clock every 3 moves until you have <20 s, then every move.
• Use pre-moves only for forced recaptures—no more than two in a row.
• Practise 1+0 bullet solely to train move-click speed, then return to 3+2/5+3 for quality games.

2. Opening Discipline

The early Qb3/Qb6 queen exchange plans are serving you, but stronger opponents punish the predictable move order (see loss vs. GMRobbie_2008). Consider:

• Add one alternative system with …g6 setups to avoid early queen swaps when you’re Black.
• Study 10 model games of the Catalan-style fianchetto; it blends well with your strategic preferences.
• Memorise one critical tactic per line, not 15 moves of theory. Use spaced repetition.

3. Endgame Technique

Three time forfeits occurred in rook endings where you were the side to press. Sharpen these basics:

• King activity principle (centralise early, even if pawns may hang).
• Lucena & Philidor positions—30 minutes on a board fixes them forever.
• Practical rule: trade down only when the resulting pawn race is calculable within 15 s.

4. Psychological Resilience

After a blunder, your next 2–3 moves tend to accelerate (average drop of 2 s/move). Insert a micro-reset:

Slow breath → evaluate material → identify opponent threats → only then look for your ideas.

This 5-second pause often prevents a second error.

Concrete Drill Plan (2-Week Cycle)

Reference Links

• Prophylaxis   • gmrobbie_2008 (study their move 5-7 plan vs. your Reti)   • Lucena Position

Motivational Highlight

Your miniature vs. Soundwave_Chess is a textbook demonstration of converting a pawn majority on both wings. Revisit it weekly until its patterns feel trivial.

Keep the momentum, Spartak! Practice with intention, and that next rating milestone will come sooner than you think.