Coach Chesswick
Hi Lee Qing Aun!
Great job on your recent 28-move win against earlgrayattack. For quick reference you can replay it here:
What you are doing well
- Dynamic openings: Sharp Sicilians and French-type gambits put early pressure on your opponents.
- Initiative & piece activity: You often seize files/diagonals quickly (e.g. the Ra1–a3–a7 manoeuvre above).
- Tactical vision: Many victories stem from spotting concrete shots and combinations.
- Fighting spirit: Time-wins vs higher-rated rivals show resilience and a never-give-up attitude.
Top three improvement priorities
- King safety in sharp openings
Losses on 29 Apr and 18 Apr began with early pawn storms while your king sat in the centre. Before pushing a wing pawn, ask: “What checks/captures does my opponent gain immediately?” Aim to complete development (or have a forced tactical justification) first. - Time management
Four of the last six defeats ended with <10 s on your clock. Use a 10-move time map:
• ≥75 % time left after move 10
• ≥50 % after move 20
• ≥25 % entering any endgame.
Train this in 5 + 5 or 10 + 0 sparring games. shows that performance often dips late at night—consider scheduling key games earlier. - Endgame conversion
The drawn rook ending vs elrekik was lost on the clock. Drill Lucena, Philidor and side-check techniques; rehearse with engines set to 2000-2200 to build speed and confidence.
Opening repertoire suggestions
- With White: Your f-pawn “Jobava” systems are strong but predictable. Add one solid option (e.g. Catalan or 6.Be2 vs the Dragon) to diversify.
- With Black vs 1.d4: The early …e6/…c5 setups sometimes leave pieces awkward (see loss vs Liverpool_444). Study the Nimzo-Indian or QGD to achieve smoother development.
Four-week training menu
| Focus | Weekly workload | Drills / Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Tactics | 200 puzzles (3-5 min each) | Double attack & defensive motifs |
| Endgames | 3 × 30 min | Rook vs pawn, minor-piece basics |
| Openings | 2 × 45 min | Create files for chosen systems; review losses with an engine |
| Annotated play | 5 slow games (10 + 5 or longer) | Self-annotate first, engine-check later |
| Mental & clock use | Post-session review | Log move times; identify impulse moves; 5-min mindfulness cooldown |
Stat snapshot
Current peak blitz rating: 2700 (2023-10-15)
Win rate by day:
Next milestone
With the three priorities above, aim for a stable 2650 blitz rating. Message me anytime you’d like a deeper dive into a specific line or concept.
Good luck and enjoy the journey!
– Your Chess Coach