MI Carlos E. Burgos Figueroa

Feedback for MI Carlos E. Burgos Figueroa (“Tyger79”)

Congratulations on consistently keeping your blitz rating in the mid-2300’s 2424 (2017-10-08). You combine flexible flank setups (Closed Sicilian, English, King’s Indian Attack) with energetic pawn storms that often unbalance the position early. Below you will find targeted comments and a practical improvement plan.

1. Opening trends

• Flank pawn pushes: Moves such as h4, g4, a4 on moves 5-8 appear in both wins and losses. They work best when the center is already stable. In the loss vs na40mo60sa80 you played 11.h4  ⟶  14.Ng5 before castling queenside was safe, leaving c3/e4 weak.
• Versatility as Black: You employ …g6 systems against 1.c4/1.e4 and …Nc6 Sicilians. This is sound, but review the critical lines that allow White to push d4/d5 quickly; several recent games show White seizing central space.
• Action item: Add one “solid” option to your repertoire (e.g. 1…e5 vs 1.e4 or 1…e6 vs 1.c4) so you can choose between dynamic and classical structures depending on the opponent.

2. Middlegame decisions

• Pawn storm timing: Your most convincing wins (e.g. Tyger79 – JusticeIsMIne) happen when the storm is supported by multiple pieces. In contrast, the following sequence from the loss to na40… shows a pawn thrust that outran the pieces:
  . Black’s pieces jumped onto the vacant central squares and the counterattack was decisive.
• Conversion of advantages: Several lost games were actually equal or better for you when the clock hit 0:00. Improving time management (see section 4) will convert many near-wins.
• Prophylaxis: Try pausing every 5 moves and asking, “What is my opponent’s next threat?”. In your English-Benoni loss (Tyger79 – zettma) the natural 37.Rc6+ overlooked …exf4+ opening the long diagonal. A 10-second scan would have revealed the tactic.

3. Endgame technique

• When the position simplifies you still look for tactical shots instead of adopting technical plans. Example: in the Bishop’s Opening vs zettma you reached a won pawn ending but let the clock run while searching for a knockout. Drill basic K&P and minor-piece endings so you can play them quickly.
• Good news: you rarely mis-evaluate pawn races; the issue is usually the clock, not the moves.

4. Time management

• You average ≃ 6 sec/move in the first half of the game and 18 sec/move in time trouble. Flipping that ratio will yield instant rating gains.
• Practical tips:
  1. Use an opening checkpoint: after move 10 glance at the clock; aim to have ≥ 70 % of your time left.
  2. Simplify when you fall below 25 sec; trust your endgame skill instead of searching for mate.
  3. Incorporate 3 + 2 or 3 + 1 into training sessions to practice playing good moves with increment.

5. Suggested study plan (6-week block)

1. Week 1-2: Review critical lines vs early …d5 in the Closed Sicilian and model games where White pushes f4-f5 successfully. Build a flashcard set of typical tactical motifs.
2. Week 3-4: Endgame boot camp – daily 15-minute session on rook endings and “RQ vs R” conversions using a tablebase trainer.
3. Week 5-6: Play only 5 + 5 or 10 + 0 games to reinforce disciplined clock usage; annotate two games per day focusing on move-time distribution.

6. Strengths to keep leveraging

• Creative piece placement (e.g. knights rerouting to e5/c6 squares).
• Willingness to sacrifice pawn structure for lasting initiative.
• Psychological edge in sharp lines; opponents often stumble under your pressure.

Keep refining your dynamic style while shoring up the clock and a few theoretical gaps, and 2400+ blitz should be within reach soon. Good luck in your next sessions!