Road Back to 2300

As always, opinions are my own, not those of Lichess.org.

Recently I resumed my 341-part series "Road to 2-Dan on Shogi Wars" but still have occasionally been playing blitz chess and practicing Puzzle Streak. I overhauled my openings, instead playing (maybe I should prepare a bingo card, and play even more):

• Alekhine Defense
• Trompowsky Attack
• Wing Gambit (response to Sicilian Defense)

I'm still getting worse middlegame positions, but opponents are unfamiliar with these pawn structures, and also with these endgames. I am playing with goals:

• Look at what the opponent is planning (don't get mated or lose pieces)
• Activate pieces on open lines
• Be willing to trade into any endgame which isn't dead lost

So... what sets apart 2300 players from lower-rated players? It's a matter of being consistently good with:

• Following general principles (activate your pieces!)
• Time management (including being willing to spend time when it matters)
• Endgame knowledge/skill (don't chalk up a win before the opponent resigns)
• Subverting expectations (seeing and disrupting the opponent's plan; only worry about pawns during endgames)

In practice, what does this look like?

I don't care what Stockfish says; 6... c5? is a critical strategic error, although thankfully not fatal this time!

To get a rating above 2300, I need to start playing real openings. Openings that I should practice at slower time controls than 3+2, so I can properly learn them.

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Image credit: Denys Nevozhai