Zhanibek Amanov IM

Constructive feedback for Zhanibek “Zhani-Z” Amanov

Your current profile at a glance

• Peak Blitz rating: 2562 (2024-07-05)
• Characteristic openings: 1 b3 (Nimzowitsch-Larsen), Caro-Kann, Sicilian Taimanov, and Queen’s Gambit–Tarrasch as Black.
• Typical result pattern: very strong in fast 60 + 1 games (many wins on time) but large Elo swings in longer 10 min games (losses to ~1500 rated players).

What you already do well

1. Dynamic piece play. Your win vs. kalmandufne shows you willingly sacrifice a pawn (6…d4!) to gain quick development and tactical chances.
2. Speed & pressure. Many opponents flag because you keep the clock edge; this is a practical strength worth preserving.
3. End-game technique. In multiple wins you converted R + pawns vs. minor pieces with correct king activity—good sign you study basic endings.

Biggest improvement levers

1. Opening discipline (especially in longer games).
   Your losses against 1400–1500 players came from early-queen adventures (3.Qh5?! vs …e5) and king walks (5.Ke2/6.Kf3). Stick to classical development: centre control, knight-before-bishop, castle early. Before every move ask: “Does this follow opening principles?”
2. King safety.
   Games lost to Qxh7# and quick mating nets begin with …Nh5 or …Bd6 leaving g7/h7 loose. Build the habit of a “20-second blunder check” on every move: checks, captures, threats against your king first.
3. Tactical hygiene.
   You see tactics for yourself, but sometimes miss simple ones against you (e.g. 10…Qb6# in the Vienna loss). Daily exercises (10–15 mixed motifs) will raise your baseline. Use spaced repetition; aim for 85 %+ accuracy under 1 minute each.
4. Stable repertoire.
   Consider narrowing to one system per colour until 2300+ feels effortless:
   • As White: keep 1 e4 but add solid main-line structures (e.g. Ruy Lopez, Italian) instead of early queen attacks.
   • As Black vs. 1 e4: your Sicilian Taimanov scores well—commit to it and learn the critical paths up to move 10.
   • As Black vs. 1 d4: the Tarrasch Defence fits your active style; review plans in the isolated-d-pawn middlegame.
5. Time-management balance.
   Winning on time is great, but rapid blunders often stem from too much speed. In 10-minute games aim to keep 2–3 minutes banked, not 6–7. Spend the saved seconds on critical positions; your accuracy will jump.

Suggested weekly training template (≈5 h total)

Session	Duration	Focus
Mon	30 min	10 tactics drills + annotate one recent loss
Wed	45 min	Opening review (update repertoire file, memorise 5 key lines)
Fri	30 min	End-game study (king-pawn & rook-pawn)
Sat	2 rapid games 15 + 10	Play, annotate without engine, then check with engine
Sun	45 min	Model-game review (grandmaster game in your opening)

Visualising your progress

 

Mini checklist before pressing “Move”

1. Are there any forcing moves (check, capture, threat) for either side?
2. Will my king still be safe? Evaluate typical mating motifs: back-rank, Greek gift, zwischenzug.
3. Does this move improve my worst-placed piece?
4. What is my opponent’s best reply? Spend 5 seconds visualising it.

Keep up the momentum!

You already demonstrate creativity and fighting spirit. By adding a layer of discipline to your openings and a final blunder-check habit, pushing through the next rating ceiling is realistic. Good luck, and feel free to share your annotated games for deeper feedback!