Coach Chesswick
Hi Cicelybergsma đź‘‹
Great job playing regularly and already reaching 1102 (2020-11-25)! Below is some tailored feedback based on your latest games.
What you’re already doing well
- Active piece play: In many wins you rapidly developed knights and bishops and placed them on aggressive squares (e.g. …Bc5, …Nf6 in the Italian). This keeps constant pressure on opponents.
- Opportunistic tactics: You often spot loose pieces and deliver forks or double-attacks. The 21…Rb8# vs qasim123md is a nice miniature.
- Confidence with the initiative: When your opponent hesitates you seize space with …d5, …f5 or advance your h- and g- pawns to open lines—an essential attacking mind-set.
Key areas to improve
- Early queen adventures
Losses vs drselsam and bong_37 show the danger of chasing pawns with your queen (7…Qa5, 10…Qb2). Try to finish development before hunting material. Ask yourself: “Does this capture help me castle or connect rooks?” - King safety & castling
Several defeats feature an exposed king in the center (e.g. 12…Nd4+ while still on e8, or 17…Kg6 wandering). Aim to castle by move 10 in most positions unless there is a concrete reason not to. - Pawn structure discipline
Over-advanced wing pawns (…h6-g5 or a5) left weaknesses your opponents exploited. Before pushing a pawn, quickly scan: “What squares will become weak if this pawn moves?” - Endgame conversion
Games against khmgaga and goodgame0111x reached winning or equal endgames that slipped away. Familiarise yourself with basic rook endgames and king + pawn vs king technique.
Action plan for the next month
| Focus | Practical task |
|---|---|
| Openings |
• Pick one line as Black vs 1.e4 (e.g. solid Two Knights/Italian) and one vs 1.d4 (e.g. Queen’s Gambit Declined set-up). • Watch a short 10-minute video or read a one-page summary, then create a mini “flash-card” with key ideas/TABs. |
| Tactics |
• Solve 15 puzzles a day at your tactics rating range. • Focus on forks, pins, and discovered attacks—recurring themes in your games. |
| Endgames |
• Play the “pawn endgame drill” vs engine: K&P vs K from both sides until you can convert/draw reliably. • Study the “Lucena” and “Philidor” rook endgame positions (10 min each). These appear surprisingly often. |
| Game review |
• After every session annotate one win and one loss. Highlight 1) moment you were proud of, 2) critical mistake, 3) lesson learned. |
Progress trackers
Check these periodically to stay motivated:
Quick opening tip
Facing 6.Ng5 in the Italian? Memorise the simple antidote: 6…d5 7.exd5 Na5! This equalises instantly and avoids tactical traps.
Mind-set reminders
- Develop first, hunt later.
- When you see a good move, look for a better one—especially a quiet developing move.
- Play “two slow games” (30 | 10) each week to practise deeper calculation and endgames.
Keep up the hard work, enjoy the journey, and see you above 1000 soon! đź’Ş