cesar umetsubo IM

Hi Cesar Umetsubo!

Great job climbing the Blitz ladder to around 2467 (2022-09-01)—your recent games show an energetic, tactical style that can overwhelm many opponents. Below is targeted feedback drawn from your latest wins and losses.

What you’re doing well

• Initiative-first mindset. In both your London-System wins and Scotch Gambit games you quickly seize space, castle long or short as needed, and launch h- and g-pawn storms that keep the opponent on the back foot.
• Tactical sharpness. Motifs like Bxc6 +, Nxf7, Rxg7 appear frequently and force errors. Your 24.Rf4! in the London win is a nice example of piling up on a pinned piece.
• Time efficiency in winning positions. When the attack is flowing you play briskly, often finishing with 60–90 seconds still on the clock.

Recurring trouble-spots

• Handling the Alapin Sicilian as Black.
  Games vs neurisdr show the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 leading to an IQP-type middlegame where your pieces end up cramped. Moves like …Na6 and early …g5 create additional weaknesses. Consider switching to the more solid 3…Nf6 or studying the French-type structures in depth.
• Kingside light-square holes.
  Several losses feature …g6/…Bg7 setups combined with early …h6/…g5, after which ♘f5, ♘g5, or ♗h6 land with tempo. Before pushing a pawn in front of your king, ask “Can my opponent plant a knight on f5 or g5 and how will I chase it away?”
• Conversion & clock management in equal or worse endgames.
  The rook-endgame losses on time show hesitation once the position quiets down. When material is level, simplify your decision tree:
  1. Activate king.
  2. Put rooks behind passed pawns.
  3. Use the increment—play the first safe move, bank two seconds, then improve.

Action plan for the next month

1. Patch the Alapin gap. Watch a short series on the 2.c3 Sicilian and create a one-page cheat-sheet with three key ideas for Black (e.g. early …Nf6, timely …d5 break, avoiding the …Na6 trap).
2. Weekly “Pawn-push audit”. After each game, write down every pawn move you made in front of your king and grade it good / questionable / losing. Patterns will leap out quickly.
3. Endgame reps. 15 minutes a day on rook-endgame drills (e.g. Lucena, Philidor, side-rook checks). This will convert several of those time-scramble losses into draws or wins.
4. Structured tactics. You’re already sharp; now raise accuracy under 20 seconds:
   • ⏲️ 10 Puzzle Rush runs per week.
   • Tag any missed intermezzo or deflection motif for review.

Progress tracker

Use the charts below to verify that the work is paying off:

• Hour-by-hour focus:

Key theoretical reminder

If you find yourself tempted by the pawn thrust …g5 again, recall the classic principle of over-extension (see weakness). A single slow move on the flank often costs two tempi in the center.

One critical moment to review

From your loss vs neurisdr (Black):

The rook invasion on c7 became unstoppable once the c-file opened. Instead, consider 18…Rc8! keeping the seventh rank protected.

Keep up the dynamic play, add a dose of prophylaxis, and you’re well on the way to the next rating milestone. Good luck!