Zhaoqi Liu IM

Recent blitz win: quick recap

Nice job on the latest blitz victory. You started with a flexible English-style setup, developed your pieces smoothly, and kept pressure in the center. The key turning point was pushing the e-pawn forward to e5 and then to e6, which created space and concrete threats that helped you seize the initiative and win the game.

What you did well

• Solid development and king safety: you developed the knight to c3, brought the bishop to d3, and castled, keeping your king safe while your pieces coordinated.
• Center space and tactical timing: you controlled the central squares with e4 and e5, and used the Nd4 and f4 ideas to increase pressure on Black’s position.
• Effective pawn advance: advancing the e-pawn to e5 and then to e6 created a strong foothold in Black’s camp and opened lines for your pieces.
• Calm in the middlegame: you kept the position active without overcommitting, converting the initiative into a decisive edge through accurate follow-up.

Areas to improve

• Time awareness in blitz: continue building a quick, practical routine for the early middlegame so you don’t get short on time in sharp lines. Consider a simple time budget per phase (opening, middlegame, endgame) during a blitz game.
• Move-order discipline: when pushing e-pawns and opening lines, ensure your rook and queen have safe, active squares. If your opponent counters accurately, you’ll want a clear plan to consolidate the edge rather than rely on tactical improvisation.
• Post-game review: after similar wins, take a few minutes to ask what alternative Black moves could have changed the evaluation. This helps you spot small improvements and avoid overreliance on a single winning idea.
• Prophylaxis and opponent plans: in openings you play frequently, practice recognizing common responses Black uses and plan a precise two-mawn follow-up to avoid being surprised in the middlegame.

Openings performance snapshot

From your openings data, a few lines stand out for blitz, while others are more mixed. Focus on the lines with stronger results and comfort, and consider avoiding highly complex variations in fast games unless you’re very confident.

• Best-performing lines to lean into:
  • French Defense: Advance Variation — strong results, solid structure, good chances for counterplay.
  • Benoni Defense: Classical Variation — favorable win rate, active play for the side with dynamic chances.
• Openings to be cautious with in blitz:
  • London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation — relatively low win rate in your data; requires precise knowledge and timing in blitz.
  • Some lines of the English Opening and the Four Knights can be positionally tricky if you’re not fully prepared for the typical middlegame plans.

Strength-adjusted plan and training focus

Your long-term trend shows gradual improvement, with mixed short-term results. To smooth out volatility and keep building on momentum, try the following plan:

• Deepen 2 openings: French Defense: Advance Variation and Benoni Classical Variation. For each, study 2 model lines and the typical middlegame plans (how to break in the center, typical piece maneuvers, and common pawn structures).
• Daily quick puzzles: 5–10 tactical puzzles focused on the chosen openings’ typical themes (knight forks, pawn breaks, and piece activity in open files).
• Post-game review routine: after blitz games, write down 3 key moments you missed and 1 improvement you can apply in the next game.
• Time-management drill: in practice games, set a strict per-move time target (e.g., average 25–30 seconds per move in the opening, with a clear plan for the first 15 moves).

Quick action items for next sessions

• Pick two openings to study this week: French Advance Variation and Benoni Classical Variation. List 3 common plan ideas for each and drill them in 4 short practice games.
• Do a 15-minute post-game review after each blitz game: identify 1 moment you could have improved and 1 alternative line you considered, with the best move you missed.
• In your next session, try to maintain a consistent pace; if you sense time trouble, switch to simpler plans and prioritize solid development over speculative tactics.