Coach Chesswick
Hi ano89273!
Great work keeping your blitz rating around the 2400 mark (2512 (2021-08-15)). Your games are fun to watch—full of energy and tactical imagination. Below is some focused feedback you can put to work right away.
What’s already excellent
- Flank pawn storms: In the win against MichailovM you combined
h4–h5with queenside pressure and converted cleanly. You clearly know how to open lines when the position calls for it. - Piece activity: Your pieces rarely sit idle. In the Nimzo-Larsen game vs tgpgoat both rooks and queen invaded the seventh rank before move 30.
- End-game technique: Against Capa98 you converted a K+P ending with no fuss—good sign that you don’t relax too early.
Main improvement themes
- King safety when pushing wing pawns
Two recent losses began with the same script: …h6/…g5 (or h4–h5) opened decisive diagonals against your own king. A quick example:
Keep a “safety checklist” before advancing the rook pawns:
‒ Are queens still on?
‒ Can the e- or d- files open?
‒ What is the quickest route to tuck the king to h7/g7?
- Opposite-side castling races
In the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon loss you allowed h-pawn levers while your counterplay (…b5…c4) never started. Review typical defensive resources: …h5, …Rh7 doubling on the h-file, and exchange sacs onc3. - Central counter-punch vs “quiet” Queen’s-Pawn systems
Versus the Zukertort/Colle you drifted into a passive setup. A quick …c5 or the flexible …b6/…Bb7/…e5 plan would seize space and reduce White’s kingside initiative. - Time management
Several blunders arrived under 15 s. Try the “30-second rule”: aim to have ≥1:30 on the clock by move 15, leaning on preparation for the opening moves.
Opening laboratory
| With | Current choice | Homework |
|---|---|---|
| White | Alapin 1.e4 c5 2.c3 | Add the sharp 6.f4 plan vs …d6 lines. |
| White | Nimzo-Larsen 1.b3 | Prepare the pawn sac cxd5 Nc3 against the …d5/…e5 clamp. |
| Black vs 1.e4 | Hyper-Accelerated Dragon | Memorise critical 6.Bc4 lines; drill “Dragon tactics” in Puzzle Rush. |
| Black vs 1.d4 | Black Knights’ Tango mix | Decide on a single structure—either pure Tango (…e6 before …d5) or the solid Tarrasch Defence. |
Four-week training micro-cycle
- Day 1–2: Annotate one recent win and one loss before consulting the engine.
- Day 3–4: 30 tactical puzzles daily, emphasising double attacks & deflections.
- Day 5: Play a 15 + 10 game, then spend 20 min analysing critical moments.
- Day 6: Opening drill—flash-card your main lines for both colours.
- Day 7: Rest / watch GM blitz; study their clock handling habits.
Progress tracker
Re-check in a month and compare:
Keep the tactical fire, add a dash of king safety, and the 2500 barrier will fall soon. Good luck and enjoy the grind!