Coach Chesswick
Hi Sandor!
Great job steadily keeping your blitz rating in the 2100-2200 range and even notching wins against higher-rated opponents (2151 (2025-05-28)). Below is a breakdown of what you are already doing well and what can help you climb to the next bracket.
What is working
- Initiative-oriented style. You are always looking for ways to seize space and activity (e.g. 18.h4!! in your win vs. Permanent_Brain).
- Tactical alertness when you have time. Many wins come from spotting intermediate moves such as 24.Rxh6! (same game) or 32.Bxe6+ in your victory over alaimocristian.
- Healthy opening mix. With White you play both the Alapin and Scotch-type positions; as Black you alternate between the Scandinavian and several Sicilian lines. This keeps opponents out of book.
Recurring improvement themes
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Time management. Four of the five recent losses were on the clock. The pattern is a sharp middlegame, then blitzing only when under 20 seconds. Try a simple habit:
- Do a time check every 10 moves (set your brain’s “clock alarm”).
- If you are under 2:00 before move 15, spend the next 3 moves playing quick, safe developing moves to rebuild the buffer.
- Avoiding “hero” moves when position is equal. Example: Bercel-Visioneer: 16.Ne4? dropped the queen. [[Pgn| 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Nf6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Qe2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.Bf4 Rd8 11.Rac1 a6 12.Bb3 Nc6 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bd7 16.Ne4? Qxe5 0-1]] Add a quick blunder-check before playing a flashy move: “What is my opponent’s simplest reply?”
- Endgame conversion. In the loss to Eichborn you were up an exchange but let the passed g-pawn queen while low on time. A weekly 30-minute session on basic rook-endgame technique (Lucena, Philidor, & ‘Vancura’ Lucena Position) will pay off quickly.
Opening notes (quick fixes, not an overhaul)
| Line | Tip |
|---|---|
| Scandinavian (…Qd6 variation) | After 5.d4 c6 you are doing well; prepare 8…Nbd7 & …Bd6 instead of …e6 to avoid a cramped light-square bishop. |
| Alapin Sicilian | On 8…h5 (Black’s …h-pawn thrust) keep the knight on c3 a bit longer; retreating too early gives Black counterplay. |
| French Two-Knights | In the TeKKen02 game 12.Re1 Nd4! was unpleasant. Study the tabiya a few moves deeper so you recognise that tactic in advance. |
Action plan for the next two weeks
- Play two 10 + 5 rapid games per day, forcing yourself to manage time; analyse without engine first, then with engine.
- Daily: 20 mixed tactics with the rule “no move in <20 seconds.”
- Three endgame flashcards each session (start with rook vs. pawn).
- Upload one annotated game per week to your coach or a study group for feedback.
Progress trackers
Use these dashboards to make sure the training is working:
Keep it fun!
Maintain your dynamic style—it is your competitive edge. By adding a little clock discipline and tightening the bolt on a few critical opening traps, you should be eyeing 2300 very soon.
Good luck and enjoy the grind!
– Your Chess Coach