Coach Chesswick
Hi Mario Alexis!
Congratulations on maintaining a 2633 (2021-12-26) around the 2500 mark. Your recent games show an enterprising style built on flexible Reti/KIA setups. Below is a snapshot of what you are already doing well and some focused, practical steps to push the bar higher.
What you’re doing well
- Consistent Opening Framework. The Nf3–g3–Bg2 system gives you reliable development and keeps preparation workload light.
- Piece Activity & Central Breaks. In wins versus Dan Herman and Isaac Chiu you converted pressure with timely breaks (f4/f5, c4-cxd5).
- Defensive Resourcefulness. Several wins arose from stubborn defence followed by counter-punching once the opponent over-pressed.
Recurring Issues
- Time-Trouble Losses. Four of your last six defeats were on the clock. Your moves/minute drop sharply after move 25 (see ).
- Handling …b5 set-ups. Early …b5 lines (vs …b5/e6 and …b5/Bb7) caused you practical problems – most clearly in the loss to Danis Kuandykuly.
- Caro-Kann (Black). In the Advance variation loss to Beksultan Moldagali you mixed plans (…Ncxe5, …a6, …e4) and fell behind on development.
Action Plan
1. Time Management (biggest ROI)
- Adopt a minimum tempo rule: aim to play the first 15 moves with ≥1:50 on the clock. Premoves for obvious recaptures help.
- Use stop-loss moments: when your time drops to 45 s, switch to “increment mode” (move every 2–3 s unless there is a forced tactic).
2. Anti-…b5 Toolkit
A simple, forcing antidote is to strike in the centre before Black consolidates.
- If you prefer to keep the Reti flavour, play 4.a4 immediately after …b5 to kill the pawn wedge and open the a-file.
3. Streamline Your Caro-Kann Repertoire (Black)
The Advance Variation is giving you headaches. Two practical choices:
- Classical …Bf5 plan: 4…Bf5 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 c5 – less theory, quick development.
- Immediate …c5 (what you played) but follow the modern recipe: …c5, …Ne7, …Nf5, …h5. Avoid early pawn grabs like …Ncxe5 until you are fully developed.
4. Tactical Sharpness & Endgames
- Daily 10-minute session on mixed tactics at 2300-2500 level to keep calculation crisp.
- Endgame habit: when queens come off, take a 3-second scan of king activity & pawn islands before making your first move.
Micro-goals for the next 30 blitz games
| Goal | Target | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Lose on time | < 2 games | Manual tally |
| Play 4.a4 vs …b5 | ≥ 5 times | Self-review PGNs |
| Score with Black Caro-Kann | 60 % or better |
Final Thoughts
You already have the tactical vision and positional understanding to compete with 2600+ blitz players. Shaving off the clock blunders and patching two opening soft spots could realistically add another 60–80 rating points. Keep the games coming, and feel free to send the next batch of PGNs for a deeper dive!