Coach Chesswick
Hi chesshh11 – Personalized Coaching Feedback
Your current blitz level (≈2620 (2023-05-26)) already puts you in the top fraction of online players, so the remarks below focus on squeezing out the extra ½-point here and there that separates 2500+ from 2600-2700.
1. Consistent Strengths
- Dynamic opening choices: Your repertoire with both colours (e.g. 1…Nc6, early …d4 pawn sacs, Chigorin vs 1.d4) often surprises high-rated opponents and drags them into unfamiliar structures.
- Resourcefulness under pressure: In your most recent win against JoeNotSoExotic you were down in development after 10.cxb4, yet you generated …e5, …Ne4, …Nf2⁺, …Nxh1 and took over the initiative initiative.
- Tactical vision & calculation speed: The miniature vs GvoVla (diagram after 18.Bxf4) shows accurate forcing play that exploited pins and loose pieces.
- Practical time handling: You generally stay 5–15 s ahead on the clock in 180 s games – a big edge in mutual Zeitnot.
2. Recurring Issues Observed in the Losses
- Pawn over-extensions on both wings
• Loss vs grunbergmihai: the pawn duo f4–g4 weakened e3 & h4; after 24…Nxe5 your centre disappeared.
• Loss vs stollenmonster: early …b5 followed by …b4 in the Closed Sicilian left dark-square holes and cost the exchange.
Habit to watch: pushing a pawn should increase the mobility of your own pieces; if it merely gains space, double-check the long-term squares it abandons. - End-game technique – converting extra material
• Win vs farzadbfd: you were a piece up as early as move 25, but needed 58 moves to force resignation and allowed counter-play (passed a-pawn + fork chances).
• Loss vs ClassyEl: reached an equal rook-&-minor-piece end-game, but a single slip 27…Rb8?–29…Kh7? cost two pawns.
Suggested fix: Dedicate 20 % of weekly study time to technical endings (rook vs rook+pawn, conversion with extra passed pawn, etc.). - King safety in the transition phase
Several games feature …Kf6, …Kd6, or Kf3 in middlegame positions. While creative, this gives blitz opponents concrete targets. Adopt the rule “King belongs on the second rank until the queens are off” unless there is a forced tactical justification.
3. Critical Example – Why the Game Was Lost
From the loss vs grunbergmihai (moves 23–31):
23. Ng4 … Raf8
24. Nfh2 … Nxe5! <– central pawn falls, bishop pair unleashed
25. O-O-O … Nxg4
26. Nxg4 … e5
27. Rdg1 … Bd5 <– black pieces flood the light squares
28. c4 … Be6
29. Bd3 … Rf3! penetrating on f-file
30. Nxe5?? Rxg3!Coach tip: after 23…Raf8, the simple 24.c3 would solidify d4/e4 and keep your spatial advantage.
4. Targeted Training Plan (Next 4 Weeks)
| Session | Focus | Drills / Material |
|---|---|---|
| Mon + Thu | End-game technique | Play 10 rook-endgames vs engine @ 2200; annotate your conversion speed. |
| Tue | Anti-pawn-storm defence | Review losses where opponent broke through on files you weakened; build a “pawn-safety checklist”. |
| Wed | Opening maintenance | Add one solid option vs 1.e4 c5 3.Bb5 (try …g6 or …e6 & d5 lines). |
| Fri | Tactics | 30 mins Puzzle Rush Survival >50; focus on quiet “improving move” puzzles, not only forcing shots. |
5. Statistics & Scheduling Insights
Use the chart below to spot time windows in which your spike in accuracy intersects with opponent fatigue:
6. Quick Reference Checklist (Blitz)
- Before pushing a wing pawn, ask: “What square(s) am I weakening in the next five moves?”
- If up material, activate force exchanges before launching new pawn storms.
- Low on time & under attack ➔ simplify, trade queens or return material to reach a safe end-game.
7. Motivation Corner
Your attacking flair is already elite; pruning the 2-3 self-inflicted weaknesses each session could net ~30-40 rating points quickly. Keep the creative spirit, but anchor it with an extra dose of prophylaxis.
Good luck & happy hunting for your next GM-scale scalps!