Coach Chesswick
Hi Connor!
You are playing a lot of 60 | 0 live games and have already built a nice base opening repertoire around 1.e4. Below is a quick snapshot of your progress:
- Peak rapid rating: 935 (2023-04-06)
- Peak blitz rating: 734 (2025-05-23)
What you are already doing well
- Open-game fundamentals. You usually start with 1.e4 Nf3 Nc3 and bring pieces toward the centre quickly. That is the right habit.
- Keeping the initiative. In several wins (e.g. vs 6drews, moves 22-35) you continued to push pawns and use open files while your opponent drifted into time trouble.
- Practical time management. You rarely drop below ten seconds before move 25, which is good for this time control.
Key areas to address next
-
King safety when playing Black.
In your most recent loss you followed 11…gxf6? and suddenly the f-, g- and h-files were wide open around your king. White finished with Qg4-g7# only six moves later:
• Avoid unnecessary pawn moves in front of your king before you have castled.
• After 10…Be6 consider 10…O-O to get out of the centre first. -
Blunder checks every move.
Most losses end with a one-move tactic (fork, pin or mate). Make it a habit to ask: “What is my opponent’s next threat?” before you press “Move”. A quick ^♛/♞/♝ scan would have shown the mate threat on g7. -
Converting winning positions.
In the win vs diron32 you were up a rook by move 18 but needed until move 26 to deliver the final blow. When you are ahead, simplify: trade queens and rooks, bring the king closer, and push a passed pawn. This keeps the clock under control and cuts your opponent’s counter-play. -
Opening focus: two systems only.
You currently mix Alekhine’s Defence, Italian, Pirc and Sicilian. Pick one line for each colour and study the typical ideas so you recognise recurring tactical patterns such as the back rank mate.
Suggested training routine (30 minutes)
- 10 min: 10 puzzles rated 400-800, focus on checkmates in 2-3.
- 10 min: Replay one of your losses without the engine and write down the move where the evaluation first swings.
- 10 min: Play a single 10 | 5 game, apply the blunder-check routine and castle by move 10.
Your activity pattern
Next milestone
Avoiding one blunder per game will quickly push you past the 800 mark. Keep the pieces protected, castle early, and enjoy the climb!