Coach Chesswick
Quick summary
Good run: you converted two different wins recently (one by checkmate / resignation, one on time) and showed excellent endgame sense and piece coordination. A recurring theme: you outmaneuver opponents with active rooks and a central/king-side plan. A few games show tactical slip-ups and some wasted tempi in the opening — easy gains if fixed.
Highlights — what you did well
- Active piece play: you repeatedly lift and swing rooks into the attack (example sequence in your recent win produced decisive pressure on the king side).
- King activity and endgame technique: you centralize your king and push a passed pawn to finish the opponent — excellent conversion instincts.
- Pressure and initiative: you keep making forcing moves (checks, captures, rook checks) that create practical problems for the opponent and lead to resignations or time losses.
- Opening strengths to keep using: your results in the and several Sicilian lines are solid — keep leveraging those repertoires.
Main areas to improve
- Avoid unnecessary piece retreats early without a clear plan. For example, retreating a developed knight to the back rank (moves like a knight going back to b1-style squares) often loses tempo — try to exchange or re-route with a purpose.
- Tactical vigilance in the opening/middlegame: in the loss vs Oliver Dimakiling you allowed decisive tactical operations around the back rank and lost major material. Watch for sacrifices aimed at your back rank and loose rooks around move 12–20 in similar structures.
- Time management in 3‑minute games: you have wins on time, but also tense time scrambles. When ahead, simplify or trade into a won endgame earlier so the clock matters less. Practice keeping a 10–15 second safety buffer in critical moments.
- Handling complex pawn structures: when the center locks or pawns get traded and isolated pawns appear, pick a long-term plan (target a weak pawn, create an outside passed pawn) instead of switching plans every few moves.
Concrete exercises (weekly plan)
- Daily tactics: 12–20 mixed tactics puzzles focused on calculation and pattern recognition (forks, skewers, back-rank, deflection). Aim to solve them without hints and review the missed ones at game speed.
- Endgame practice: 2× per week — 20 minute drills on rook + king vs rook, king + pawn endings and king activity. Convert simple advantages under a clock.
- Opening + middlegame integration: 3× per week — pick 2 lines you play (suggested: your Caro-Kann and one Sicilian you use) and study model games — focus on typical pawn breaks and where the knights/bishops want to go.
- One post-game review each day: within 24 hours of playing, check the lost/drawn/unclear games to find the single critical mistake or turning point and write down the correct plan.
Opening advice (targeted)
- Closed Sicilian / Najdorf / other Sicilian family: reinforce plans — when to play b4/b5 (queenside expansion) vs when to strike in the center with d4/d5. Study typical pawn breaks and the right knight outposts so you don't waste moves.
- Keep and expand your strong Caro-Kann lines — your win rate there is excellent. Turn those openings into long-term advantages by learning two or three typical plans for the middlegame.
- Practical tip: against lines that include early sacrifices on f7 / back-rank tactics, prioritize king safety and rook coordination over material grabbing. If you see an opponent's tactical idea brewing, trade queens or step away from immediate recaptures if it hurts your coordination.
One-session checklist you can use at the board
- Before each move ask: "Is any of my pieces loose or hanging?" (prevents simple tactical losses).
- If ahead materially: simplify (trade a minor piece or exchange into a rook+pawn endgame) and reduce opponent counterplay.
- If behind on time: simplify or make safe consolidating moves — avoid speculative sacrifices unless they win instantly.
- When you plan piece re‑routing, have a square target (outpost, weak pawn) in mind before moving.
Short study plan for the next 30 days
- Week 1–2: daily tactics + 3 Caro-Kann model games. Focus: typical pawn breaks and short-term plans.
- Week 3: rook endgames and converting passed pawns under the clock. Play 10 rapid positions from endgame drills.
- Week 4: review 20 of your own games from the last month; pick top 5 turning points and summarize correct ideas in one sentence each.
Examples from your recent games
Replay your most recent win (good demonstration of rook activity, king centralisation and passed pawn):
Quick notes on that game: your rook sacrifices and checks (for example the Rxh6 sacrifice) opened lines and let you exploit back-rank weaknesses and a passed pawn. Good conversion.
Review the loss vs Oliver Dimakiling carefully: that game shows how tactical blow-ups in the opening (loss of a rook/back-rank activity) become decisive very fast. Mark the critical moment and ask: could I have exchanged queens or improved king safety?
Next steps (short checklist)
- Do a 20–30 minute tactics session today. Focus on back-rank and deflection motifs.
- Replay the loss vs Oliver Dimakiling and find the first move that changed the evaluation; write down the alternative plan.
- Pick one Sicilian line and one Caro-Kann line — collect 4–5 model games each and add to your study folder.
- Play 10 practice games with 3+2 or 5+0 controls to practice time management and converting with increment.
Want a focused plan?
If you want, tell me which area to prioritise — openings, tactics, endgames or time management — and I’ll produce a 4‑week daily schedule tailored to your preferred time each day.