Coach Chesswick
Hi Anna-Maja!
Great run of games today – your tactical vision is shining through. Below is some targeted feedback drawn from your last session.
What is working well
- Sharp tactical awareness. Your wins against architect_haydar and NomadKnights show you spotting mating nets in < 25 seconds. Example:
- Opening variety. You’re comfortable switching between the Italian, French Wing Gambit and Queen’s Gambits, forcing opponents out of prep.
- Practical decision-making. When short of time you simplify accurately (e.g., …Qxf2+ against hristos03) rather than chasing perfect moves.
Recurring issues to address
- Time management – the single biggest leak
• Four of the last seven losses were on the clock.
• You averaged ≤ 1 sec/move in the critical final phase of every lost game.
Action: Train with 1 | 1 or 2 | 1 so every move gives you the +1 s “oxygen”. Spend the increment on calm blunder-checks.
(See your dip on the late-night segment of .) - King safety in gambit structures
• In the loss vs the Scandinavian (…f5 …Ne3 fork) your own king never left c2 files.
• In several French Wing Gambits you pushh-pawns before castling and get counter-attacked.
Action: Add one “reminder” to your pre-move list: “Have I secured my king?” Consider short-side castling sooner or playing 0-0-0 more cautiously. - Handling counter-sacrifices
• Opponents broke open the centre with …e5 or …d4 while your pieces were on the rim. Study model games on central strikes vs flank attacks.
• Include drills on the motif Zwischenzug to refine calculation when opponents throw intermezzos.
Opening micro-tune-ups
| Line | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| French Wing Gambit | Insert 7. a4 before g4 to restrain …b5. |
| Italian (Black) | After 5…d6 consider the modern plan …h6, …Ba7, …Be6 only after White commits c3. |
| Scandinavian (White) | Versus …Qd8 pick the calmer 8. Be2/O-O instead of early h3-g4. |
Structured training plan (2 weeks)
- Bullet with increment: 20 games/day at 1 | 1 → goal: < 5 % time losses.
- Tactics: 50 puzzles focusing on defensive themes (pin-breakers, perpetuals).
- Model game study: one classical QGD and one Italian each evening – annotate why central breaks work.
- Endgame refresh: 10 rook-and-pawn endings (side-checks & bridge building) to convert advantages calmly.
Motivation corner
You’re already performing at 2680 (2025-06-20) strength; ironing out clock control alone could add 50-80 rating points. Keep the attacking flair – just back it with a few extra seconds and a safer king and you’ll be lethal!
See you climbing again soon – good luck!