Andriy Vovk GM

Feedback for Andriy Vovk

What you’re doing extremely well

• Broad, aggressive repertoire. As White you switch comfortably between 1.e4 and 1.d4; as Black you handle several Sicilian systems and the Scandinavian. This keeps opponents guessing and maximises practical chances.
• Tactical sharpness. Your last victory against smichael83 shows first-rate calculation: the d6–d7!! break on move 27 crowned a long‐term pawn sacrifice and forced resignation.
• Piece activity over material. In many wins you give pawns (e.g. 15…Qxg2 vs. Chigorin) for open lines and initiative. That fighting spirit is a trademark strength.
• Conversion technique in winning endings. Games such as the Philidor (60.Qe7#) illustrate patient, near-flawless technique once queens come off.

Key areas to sharpen

• Time management. Four of your last five losses were on time despite playable or winning positions (see the 2023 Scotch vs. msz2108). Consider a simple discipline:
  – Opening: rarely below 80 % of your clock.
  – Middle-game: aim to reach move 25 with half your starter time.
  – End-game: play on increment only when the evaluation is clearly winning.
  A visible timer bar or a short mental “every five moves” check can help.
• King safety in speculative lines. In the recent Chigorin win, 13…Qh3? created chances for Black because your king stayed in the centre. Practical tip: if you’ve advanced the c- and g- pawns, ask “where is my king’s long-term shelter?” before taking more space.
• Handling the Modern/Robatsch ( …g6 ). Three rapid losses arose from this defence. Your set-ups with h4–h5 are principled but coast into time trouble. Try an easier plan: 4.Nf3, Be3, Qd2, Bh6, long castle — still aggressive but less calculation-heavy.
• Critical moment awareness. In the 2022 Kan loss you allowed 18…Qxc3 winning a pawn and the initiative. Add a “blunder-check” routine before each capture: “If I play this, what is my opponent’s most forcing reply?” Ten seconds here can save minutes later.

Concrete study suggestions

1. Blitz to rapid translation. Play one 30 | 10 game daily for a week. Force yourself to spend at least 1 minute on moves 10-15; review the game with an engine, focusing on moves you played in <10 seconds.
2. End-game drill. Your technique is good; make it automatic. Spend 15 minutes per day on tablebase-derived rook-and-pawn endings so you can finish won positions faster, saving time earlier.
3. Opening pruning. Keep your main weapons but add one “lazy day” system (e.g. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3) to avoid deep theory when tired.

Illustrative snippets

Critical sequence from the Chigorin game (engine’s main line after 13…Qh3):

13…Qh3 14.Bf1 Qh5 15.c5! 0-0-0 16.Qa4 Kb8
  White is already clearly better.

Your winning tactic vs. the Philidor:

Numbers at a glance

Peak Rapid rating: 2639 (2025-05-20)

When do you score best? See

Next steps

If you can cut the time-pressure losses by just two per month you should stabilise above 2700 rapid online. Keep the creativity, tighten the clock handling, and good luck in your upcoming events!