Coach Chesswick
Constructive feedback for Broderick Bauml
1. What you are already doing well
- Confident initiative-grabbing. Your wins against Michal Provaznik and pillsbury95 show a knack for seizing space on the a- and h- files and changing the pawn structure to your favour.
- Tactical alertness. Sequences such as 14…Nxe4 15.Nxg7+ Kf8!! (vs owl_towel) and the Ne7+/Nd5 fork combination against cmunda demonstrate steady calculation skills.
- Time-scramble poise. Several wins arrive with your opponent flagging while you still keep 15–30 s; your mouse-speed and pre-move discipline are assets.
2. Recurring problems that cost points
- Light-square sensitivity in the Accelerated Dragon. In the loss to Arman Geivondian the chain …g6, …Bg7, …d6 left the complex on d5-e4-f3 unprotected. After 18.Bh6! you had no comfortable answer to the pressure on light-squares. • Quick fix: After 10.Qd3 play 10…Be6 or 10…Qa5 to discourage Rac1/Rfd1. • Long-term: Add the “a6/b5” or “…e6 & …Qe7” set-ups to vary the structure and reduce static weaknesses.
- Over-extended flank pawns when facing slow systems. Against OneDebutPlayer (Mieses) the early …h5/…c5/…b5 left the king stuck in the centre and the queenside full of holes. Before launching both wing pawns, ask “what happens if the centre opens right now?” A single preparatory move such as …Be7 or …Nc6 would have kept the position flexible.
- Endgame technique & conversion speed. The 86-move grind vs owl_towel shows good persistence yet also hints at missed faster wins (e.g. 38…Kg8! 39.Kg8?? forced mate in 15 was available earlier). • Drill rook-and-pawn endgames for 10 minutes each session – Lichess “R-P vs R” tablebase trainer is ideal.
3. Opening tune-ups (next 2 weeks)
| Colour | Current main line | Suggested micro-goal |
|---|---|---|
| White | Closed Sicilian 3.Bb5/3.Bd3 | Add the 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.0-0 sideline vs 2…Nc6 to keep opponents guessing. |
| Black | Accelerated Dragon | Learn the anti-Maroczy “…a5 & …a4” plan (see Caruana-Carlsen, 2015). |
| Black | French-type setups (…e6/…d6) | Study one complete game with …c5 held back until the centre is clarified. |
4. Middlegame focus points
- Prophylaxis drills. Spend 15 minutes/day with exercises where the task is “find opponent’s threat & stop it”. This will cut down losses to Bh6/Qh6 motifs.
- Exchange evaluation. In several games you played …Bxc3 or …Nxe4 reflexively. Before trading, do a blunder check on the squares you leave behind (c5/e5/g6). A 5-second habit here will save rating points.
5. Practical & psychological tips
- Use your mouse-speed advantage to gain time, not to spend it. Cash in the extra seconds to verify candidate moves instead of posting instant replies.
- Insert a short mental checklist when facing a rating-favourite (>+300 elo). In the amelia91 game you played accurately for 10 moves, then rushed with …a6/…b5. Slowing down for one move often breaks the opponent’s prepared line.
6. Measure your progress
• Your current peak blitz rating: 2517 (2025-05-27)
• Watch how the following charts evolve after you implement the plan:
7. Study references
- “Chess Structures – A Grandmaster Guide”, Chapters 6 & 7 (Maroczy & Hedgehog).
- Any 5 random rook-endgames from Capablanca annotated – aim to summarise each in one key sentence.
Keep playing dynamically, but add a dash of prophylaxis and endgame polish – that recipe should push you decisively past the next rating plateau. Good luck!