Yash Karkhanis

Quick summary

Nice run in your recent blitz: you converted clean tactical chances and finished a sharp game with a mating idea on move 31. At the same time, a couple of losses came from time trouble and a missed defence when the opponent attacked your king. Below are focused, actionable steps to keep the good stuff and fix the recurring issues.

Highlights — what you did well

• You spot tactical shots and follow through: in your win vs jaykela05 you won material and finished with a decisive queen move. That shows good pattern recognition for mating nets and tactics.
• Active piece play and use of open files — your rooks and queen got to aggressive squares quickly, which created concrete threats.
• You punish inaccuracies: in the win vs prag_op you grabbed a key pawn and forced simplifications that led to resignation. Good conversion of advantages into a simplified winning endgame.
• Your opening choices are flexible — you’re comfortable entering different queen‑pawn and French structures instead of being stuck in one line. Consider turning that into an advantage by learning a few go‑to plans.

Key areas to improve

• Time management (biggest recurring issue): you lost at least one game on time when the position was still playable. In blitz with increment, avoid long think-stretches on non‑critical moves and use your increment to simplify when ahead on the clock.
• Defence around your king: several losses show your king exposed on the queenside with opposing pieces getting into the attack. Watch pawn moves in front of your king (don’t create unnecessary weaknesses) and prioritize a safe escape square.
• Tactical oversights under pressure: when the opponent had a mating or heavy‑piece attack you sometimes missed a defensive resource. Practise common defensive motifs (interpositions, checks that change the attacker, and simple piece trades to relieve pressure).
• Opening follow‑up plan: you get out of the opening fine, but some middlegame plans were reactive. Pick 1–2 systems you like and learn the typical pawn breaks and piece placements (for example, if you play lines that transpose to the Queens or French patterns, study typical plans for both sides).

Concrete drills and practice plan (next 2 weeks)

• Daily 10–15 minute tactic session: 20–30 mixed puzzles focusing on mating patterns, forks, skewers and discovered attacks. Stop the timer after each puzzle and write down the first defensive candidate you missed.
• Clock discipline drill: play six games at 3+2 but force yourself to spend no more than 15 seconds per move in quiet positions (practice the habit of fast sensible moves). If you get to critical moments, spend the extra time there — not earlier.
• Defence mini‑course (3 games): after every loss, spend 5 minutes doing a 1‑minute post‑mortem — find the one move that changed the game (this helps avoid repeat mistakes).
• Opening study: choose one reliable setup (e.g. the Scandinavian or Scotch you already have good results with) and learn 3 typical middlegame plans and one tactical trap to avoid. Use the opening names you play so you can reuse ideas in your blitz games.
• Endgame basics: 10 minutes twice a week on king + rook vs king and basic queen endgames — these are practical in blitz and help convert advantages when the opponent flags.

In‑game checklist (use it before you press the clock)

• Are any of my pieces hanging? Can the opponent win material with a tactic next move?
• Is my king safe? Any back‑rank or mating threats I must parry first?
• Do I have time to calculate this variation, or should I play a safe, practical move and use my increment?
• If ahead in material, can I simplify to a won endgame — or am I better off keeping tension?

Sample position to study

Review the finishing sequence from your Nov 14 win vs jaykela05 — you combined a queen infiltration with a rook battery to force mate. Replaying it slowly will reinforce the motifs you used. (PGN below for quick review.)

Next steps and encouragement

You’re doing the important things: creating threats, finishing tactics and converting positions. Tidy up your clock habits and sharpen a small set of defensive patterns and you’ll see your blitz results become more consistent. Small, focused practice (tactics + a tiny opening plan + clock drills) will pay off quickly.

If you want, I can turn this into a 2‑week practice schedule with specific puzzles and opening lines to train. Also tell me which opening you want to make your “go‑to” (for example Scandinavian or Scotch) and I’ll give a short, practical repertoire.