Jure Skoberne GM

Hi Jure — personalized coaching review

Your current profile at a glance

• Peak blitz rating:
• Typical playing windows: see
• Performance trend:

Strengths to keep nurturing

1. Piece activity & initiative – In your recent win (1 b3 e5 2 Bb2 …) you seized the initiative with …f5 and …Ng4, forcing weaknesses around the white king.
2. Practical end-game technique – Converting the R + 2 pawns vs B-pair ending with precise pawn pushes (…b4, …c4) was textbook.
3. Opening flexibility – You comfortably handle both flank openings (Larsen, Bird) and classical set-ups (King’s Indian/Benoni structures).

Priority improvement areas

1. Early queen sorties
   In several losses your queen left camp prematurely (e.g. 11 Qc2 vs resinking, 15 Qb3 vs resinking). • Ask “What new threat am I creating?” before each queen move. • Consider a developing move instead; knights/bishops often do the same job more safely.
2. Central tension & pawn breaks
   You often push d4/d5 or …d5/…e5 without full support, allowing opponents to capture and simplify favourably. • Insert a preparatory move (Re1, …Re8, Qc7 etc.) so recaptures come with tempo. • Review the concept of the pawn%20lever and ensure at least two pieces back up the break.
3. King safety vs. the Bird & Duras Gambit
   Two recent defeats followed the pattern 1 …f5, 2 exf5 Kf7?! exposing your king. • If you enjoy the Dutch, prefer 1 …e6/…Nf6 move orders so your king castles quickly. • Study the anti-Dutch sideline 2 fxe5 d6 3 e6 (From’s) to add a solid antidote.
4. Clock management
   Good positions slipped after spending <20 s for critical decisions (e.g. 27 …c5 vs resinking). • Aim to keep >50 s entering any rook ending. • Train on incremental time-controls to ingrain “move-confirmation” discipline.

Concrete opening homework

• As Black vs 1 c4/1 Nf3: Add a simple repertoire based on …e6 & …d5. It cuts down early …Bb4+ and …a5 ideas that cost tempi in your loss.
• As White: After 1 b3/1 f4 develop to e3/d3 quickly and contest the centre sooner. Study the classical plan c4–d4 from your own wins and replicate it consistently.

Tactical theme for the week

Practice puzzles featuring the motif Zwischenzug. Many missed chances (e.g. 20 Nxe7+! in your win) revolved around an in-between check or capture.

Visual recap of key sequence

Most instructive fragment from your last victory:

Next steps

1. Review five games where you pushed a central pawn and later regretted it; annotate alternatives.
2. Spar two 15 + 10 games focusing on keeping your queen behind your minor pieces.
3. Repeat an end-game drill: R + pawns vs bishop pair with 30-second increment until you hold 80 %.

Keep up the great work, Jure. Your creative style is a real asset—fine-tune these strategic details and that next rating jump is within reach!