David

Hi David, here is some constructive feedback based on your recent games.

1. What you’re doing well 👏

• Fast development & castling. In your wins you normally castle by move 5-7 and bring at least two minor pieces into play quickly. This often lets you seize the initiative before your opponent is ready.
• Tactical alertness. The miniature 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 … 9.Qxf7# shows good awareness of the f-file and basic mating patterns. Similar shots (e.g. 27…Rc1+! in the 2022 Sicilian win) indicate that you spot direct tactics well when the idea is “in the air.”
• Confidence with the initiative. You don’t hesitate to sacrifice pawns (or even an exchange) when you sense attacking chances. This is a valuable trait—keep nurturing it.

2. Recurring problems that cost you games ⚠️

• Early flank pawn pushes that weaken your own king. In several losses you played …g5 / …h5 (e.g. moves 13–15 of the 2024 Queen’s-Pawn loss) while your king was still in the centre or only recently castled. This created holes that White exploited.
  ➜ Rule of thumb: avoid advancing the g- and h-pawns before your pieces are developed and you have a clear plan.
• Excessive queen activity before finishing development. In the 2023 Sicilian loss you grabbed a pawn with 17…Qxf4, fell behind in development and were punished by 25.Rxh6+. Try to follow the classic principle: develop first, hunt pawns later.
• Acceptance of off-beat openings without a clear plan. When facing sidelines like 2.Bc4 vs the Sicilian or early h3/a3 systems, you sometimes play decent moves but lack a cohesive setup and fall behind. Preparing a model repertoire will help (see section 4).
• End-game & rook technique. In several wins you reached clearly won rook endings but used a lot of time converting; in a 2020 loss you were mated from a seemingly equal position (…Qa5 line). Sharpening fundamental rook endgame knowledge will boost your conversion rate.
• Time management. A few losses were due to flagging or abandonment while still holding playable positions. Aim to keep at least 30-40 % of your initial time for move 20, and decide before the game whether you’re able to commit the full session.

3. Concrete study suggestions 📚

1. Spend 15 min/day on puzzle rush or rated tactics until you consistently score 25-30. Many of your losses stem from tactical oversights rather than strategic misunderstandings.
2. Create a “safety checklist” for the first 10 moves:
   • Are all minor pieces out?
   • Is my king safe?
   • Have I centralised at least one rook?
   Only after saying “yes” to at least two of these should you consider pawn storms like …g5 or …h5.
3. Choose a main-line response to 1.e4 and 1.d4 that you’ll play for the next 30 games. Repetition breeds confidence.
   Example:
   • Against 1.e4 ➜ Classical Sicilian (…Nc6, …d6, …e6) or the solid French
   • Against 1.d4 ➜ King’s Indian or solid Queen’s Gambit Declined
4. Work through the first 20 exercises of Silman’s Complete Endgame Course (or any basic endgame text) focused on king + pawn vs king and basic rook endings.
5. Review your own games weekly. For each loss, write one line: “I lost because ___.” Pattern recognition will follow.

4. Your personal progress dashboard

Peak Blitz rating: 1447 (2023-10-31)
When you tend to score best:

5. Quick reference gallery

• Typical weakness after …g5: see overextension.
• Missing killer blows? Review tactic → try “See-fork-mate” spotting routine.
• If you blunder material, annotate it as a blunder and ask “what was undefended?”

6. Highlight game to revisit

The following miniature shows both your attacking strength and the importance of punishing premature pawn moves by the opponent. Replay it once a week and ask, “why did each tactic work?”

Final thoughts

You already possess a keen eye for tactics and a fighting spirit. By tightening your opening structure, resisting unnecessary pawn pushes and deepening your endgame technique, you should comfortably break the 1500-blitz barrier within a few months. Keep the momentum going—good luck, and enjoy the journey!