Vladimir Zakhartsov GM

Feedback for Vladimir Zakhartsov

Vladimir, your recent games demonstrate a deep understanding of opening theory and middlegame dynamics, especially in Queen's Gambit Declined and other d4 openings. Your positional play and ability to create tangible advantages speak to your solid classical foundation.

Strengths

• Opening Preparation: Your move orders in openings like the Queen's Gambit and Catalan show good theoretical knowledge, smoothly reaching playable middlegames.
• Strategic Play: You handle tension and exchanges well, for instance in pushing c5 and controlling key squares, and adjusting your piece placements actively.
• Endgame Technique: In several wins, you convert small advantages carefully, demonstrating good technique in rook and pawn endings.
• Resourcefulness Under Time Pressure: Despite tough situations, you find accurate defensive and resourceful moves.

Areas to Improve

• Tactical Alertness: A few of your losses, such as the one vs Gangster-accountant01, result from sharp tactical sequences against you. Regular tactical training can help diminish these lapses.
• Time Management: Your victories sometimes came from opponents losing on time. Balancing deep calculation with solid but timely decisions may improve your practical results.
• Handling Opponent Pressure in Complex Positions: In a couple of games, sustained attacking pressure from your opponents eventually overwhelmed your position. Enhancing your defensive techniques and counterplay could help you in such moments.

Suggestions

1. Include routine tactical exercises daily, focusing on pattern recognition and calculation accuracy.
2. Review critical moments from recent losses to understand where defensive resources or move order could improve.
3. Analyze endgame studies to sharpen precise technique in rook and minor piece endings.
4. Experiment with slightly faster time controls in practice to improve time management under pressure.
5. Consider enriching your repertoires with surprise ideas or less-explored sidelines to challenge opponents out of book.

Your passion and level are impressive; with focused work on these areas, you can climb even higher in strength and consistency. Keep up the great effort!

For example, here is your most recent win that ended on time pressure—the way you maintained positional pressure and limited counterplay was instructive:

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.06.06"]
[White "Vladimir_Zakhartsov"]
[Black "cyber87547"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bc3 b6 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. b4 Bb7 11. c5 bxc5 12. bxc5 Ba6 13. Re1 Qc7 14. Qa4 Bb5 15. Qc2 Rfb8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Bc4 19. Ree1 Bd5 20. h4 h6 21. Bd2 Rb5 22. Bf4 Qa5 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Bxe5 Bf8 25. Bxd5 exd5 26. h5 Re8 27. Re3 Qb4 28. Rae1 f6 29. Qg6 Re6 30. Qg4 Rxe5 31. Rxe5 fxe5 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Rxe5 Qxd4 34. Qe8 Qxc5 35. Rf5 Kg8 36. Qf7+ Kh7 37. Qg6+ Kg8 38. Qf7+ Kh7 39. Qxf8 Qxf8 40. Rxf8 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Rb2 42. Rc8 Rxa2 43. Rxc6 a5 44. Rd6 a4 45. Rxd5 a3 46. Ra5 Ra1 47. g4 a2 48. Ra8 g5 49. hxg6+ Kg7 50. f4 Kxg6 51. Ra6+ Kg7 52. Kh2 Kf7 53. Kg2 Ke7 54. Ra5 Kd7 55. Ra6 Kc7 56. Ra3 Kb7 57. Rb3+ Kc6 58. Ra3 Kc5 59. Ra8 Kb4 60. Rb8+ Kc3 61. Ra8 Kd4 62. Re8 Kd3 63. Rd8+ Ke3 64. Ra8 Kxf4 65. Ra4+ Kg5 66. Kh2 Kh4 67. Ra5 Rh1+ 68. Kxh1 a1=Q+ 69. Rxa1 Kxg4 70. Ra4+ Kg3 71. Ra3+ 1-0