Hi YM-1, here’s some focused feedback based on your recent blitz (3 + 0) games.
Quick Snapshot
- Current strength: high-2200s blitz with evident tactical flair.
- Peak blitz rating so far: .
- Your performance curve: . Use it to choose your most productive playing windows.
What You’re Doing Well
- Initiative from the opening. In your English/Caro-Kann hybrid vs Aaron Mendes you generated pressure with 12.Nd5! and seized the c-file early.
- Resourceful calculation. Tactics such as 21.Qxf7+!! (same game) and the exchange-sac 21.Rxe4! in the Vienna display excellent board vision.
- Piece activity in endgames. The win vs wnstop shows how you convert minor‐piece activity and passed pawns even with seconds on the clock.
Priority Improvements
1. King Safety after Castling
You sometimes loosen the dark squares around your own king (…g6/…h6 setups) without a concrete plan. In the loss to SuchMisfortune the weakening 17…g5?! let White’s knight land on c4 and the queen invade.
- Before pushing a wing pawn in front of your king, run a blunder-check: “What new squares become weak?”
- Add the Classical Dragon or KID model games to your study so you internalize typical king-side pawn structures.
2. Central Counterplay vs Early b3/Bb2 Systems
Both your win and your most recent loss arose from symmetrical 1.Nf3/2.b3 lines. The difference: as Black you let White play d4 & c4 unchallenged and fell to 31.Nf6#.
- Adopt a rule: if you allow c5 + d5 or d4 + c4 you must counter‐strike with …e5 or …e6 early, or prepare …e5 breaks later.
- Practical drill: set a board position after 5.d4 and play 10 engines vs yourself; only win by central breaks, no wing pawn pushes.
3. Converting Material Advantages
The French gambit loss vs Budisavljevic shows a recurring issue: when up material you sometimes allow counterplay and time pressure to erode the edge.
- Checklist after going up material: (a) centralize pieces, (b) trade attackers, (c) activate king. If two of the three aren’t possible immediately, look for a simplifying zwischenzug.
- Endgame study: Karpov–Kamsky 1996; note how Karpov “strangles” counterplay before pushing pawns.
4. Clock Management
Your average time left on move 30 is under 15 s. Many endgame slips coincide with sub-5 s play.
- Incorporate 1-minute “move bursts” in training: try to solve 3 simple tactics in 60 s to simulate blitz tension.
- Set a hard rule: never dip below 30 s before move 20 unless you’re winning material.
Action Plan for the Next Two Weeks
- Play 20 blitz games with the explicit goal “no unnecessary pawn moves near my king.” Annotate them briefly.
- Review 10 master games in the English vs …c6 structure; pause at move 12 and guess the plans.
- Daily endgame drill: 3 rook-and-pawn studies under 5 minutes each.
- Two sparring sessions (15 + 10) with a partner where you must verbalize the conversion checklist every time you go up material.
Key Tactic to Remember
The mating net you fell into:
Keep It Up!
Your creativity and fighting spirit are clear strengths. Balance them with tighter defense and time discipline, and 2300+ blitz will become your new floor rather than your ceiling. Good luck with the grind, and feel free to share your annotated games for deeper dives.