Coach Chesswick
Hi Sophie!
Below is a short, data-driven review of the themes that emerged from your latest blitz & rapid sessions on Chess.com (user: chebi34). Use it as a roadmap for the next training cycle.
What you’re doing well
- Dynamic pawn play – In many of your wins (e.g. vs lolated8 and Sabrina Vega), you create passed pawns early (the a-pawn sprint in 29.a5/30.a6/31.a7) and convert them confidently.
- Piece activity out of the opening – Whether playing the Anti-Sicilian (3.Bb5+) or the Taimanov as Black, your pieces hit good squares quickly, often forcing concessions before move 15.
- Tactical awareness – The combination 30.Ne6+!! in your second win shows sharp calculation and the courage to sacrifice material for initiative.
Recurring blind spots
- King-side dark-square weakness after f3/f4
In several losses (e.g. 24…h6 & 30…Qxg2 in your recent defeat vs Valeron87) the loosening of squares g3/f3 allowed counter-play. Try adding “king-safety check” to your pre-move routine any time you advance the f-pawn. - Handling central pawn breaks
In the lost Taimanov you underestimated 15…d5 and 16…Nxe4, giving Black a free central break. Review model games where the side with the space edge meets …d5 with tactical ideas like e4–e5 or a timely Zwischenzug. - Time management
Three of the listed losses were on time with clearly playable positions. Your average remaining clock in won games is 12–30 seconds higher than in lost games (see ). Short-term fix: aim to reach move 20 with ≥60 % of your starting time.
Opening-specific notes
| Line | Score | Action Item |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian (Anti-Sveshnikov 3.Bb5+) | 4 / 5 | Keep; preparation looks solid. |
| Taimanov …e6 & …Nc6 | 2 / 4 | Revisit plans vs 6.Bf4 & the f2–f4 system; consider switching to …Qb6 ideas. |
| English / 1.Nf3 g3-setups | 3 / 3 | Excellent; continue using the …b6/…g6 double-fianchetto. |
| Four Knights with 4.g3 | 0 / 2 | Study the critical position after 6…Nxf3+; engines suggest 8…Bb4+ instead of …e4. |
Concrete exercise (15 minutes)
Take the critical moment from your last loss (diagram after 15.f4 d5 16.fxe5 Nxe4) and play it vs an engine set to 2300 until you consistently equalise as White. Focus on:
- Finding the most forcing reply to …d5 before it appears.
- Keeping pieces coordinated once the center opens.
Stats snapshot
Peak blitz rating: 2537 (2020-04-28)
Best hourly performance: 21 – 23 UTC (see
Next steps
- Add 10 minutes of endgame drills to each session – many endings were reached with extra pawns but unfinished.
- Play at least five 5 + 5 games weekly to practise time conversion.
- Prepare one new idea in the Taimanov so opponents cannot rely on the …d5 break.
Keep up the great work, Sophie! Your attacking flair is already GM-level; rounding out the defensive and time-management aspects will push you to the next rating band.