Coach Chesswick
Feedback for Arlan Cabe
Quick overview
Current form looks strong in faster time-controls and in Chess960, while classical & rapid games vs tougher opposition still reveal a few blind-spots. Peak so far: .
Your results by schedule and playing frequency:
What you are already doing well
- Opening breadth. English/Sicilian mainlines plus off-beat systems give you practical chances and keep lower-rated opponents out of book.
- Piece activity & tactics. Games vs thegreatfred and jhaycoteope09 show you willingly seize open files (…Re8, …Rc8, Rxf8+!) and spot forks such as 26…Nd3.
- End-game fighting spirit. Several wins were converted with accurate rook manoeuvres or by pressing on the clock even from equal positions—useful practical skill.
Key improvement themes
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King safety before pawn breaks.
Loss to pendracoj began with …b5/…Qa5 while your king stayed in the centre. After 16.Rxe7+ the position collapsed. Study the critical sequence: ➜ Guideline: castle by move 10 unless you are certain the centre will stay closed. -
Over-extension of wing pawns.
In several defeats you pushed …a5/…b4 or …g5 early, creating light-square holes (e.g., vs gabrielenjun). Try the “no-pawn-moves” exercise: play training games where you are not allowed to advance a wing pawn before move 8 unless it recaptures. -
Conversion technique when clearly ahead.
The 80-move marathon against a 775-rated opponent ended in checkmate against you despite multiple extra pawns and the safer king. Revisit basic endings (K+Q vs K+N/B, rook end-games, passed-pawn theory). 15 minutes of end-game rehearsal per day will pay off quickly. -
Structured thinking in slower games.
In 15 + 10 you often spent time on obvious recaptures yet blitzed during critical defensive moments. Adopt a three-step scan before every move: Checks – Captures – Threats. Force yourself to list at least one candidate move for your opponent before playing yours.
Suggested training plan (4-week block)
| Day | Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mon / Wed / Fri | 10 tactics puzzles + annotate one of your losses for turning-points | 30 min |
| Tue / Thu | End-game drill (rook vs pawn, queen vs minor, technical wins) | 20 min |
| Sat | Play one 15 + 10 game focusing solely on king safety & time management | 45 min |
| Sun | Rest / review best game of the week and note one habit to keep, one to drop | 15 min |
Positive habit to keep
You frequently double rooks on open files (…Rae8/Rfe8) and convert that pressure into material. Keep this roster of active piece coordination—it is one of your defining strengths.
One-sentence takeaway
Your attacking instincts are strong; bolstering them with disciplined king safety and crisp end-game technique will lift you comfortably above the 2000-mark.