Coach Chesswick
Quick summary (latest game)
Your last rapid win used a sharp Italian/Giuoco Piano idea: you opened the center, sacrificed a bishop on f7 to break the king out, grabbed the a8 rook with your queen and finished by swapping into a winning material position. Your opponent resigned after you simplified into a clearly winning position.
- Game to review: bhftfticoyvhchvhchigihi (opponent from the last PGN)
- Visualize the finished tactical sequence:
What you're doing well
Clear practical strengths visible across these games:
- Strong attacking instincts — you see sacrificial ideas (Bxf7+ style) and follow through to concrete gains rather than speculative play.
- Good opening preparation in systems you play often (London/Colle/QGD/English) — your openings win consistently in your sample.
- Converting advantages: many wins end by resignation or mate, so you finish when the opponent is collapsing.
- Time control comfort: you handle 10|0 rapid well (games end comfortably without panicky flags in most examples).
- You’ve demonstrated the ability to switch between tactical (sacrifice) and positional play (rook lifts, infiltration) — a useful mix.
Patterns and mistakes to fix
Small but recurring issues to address so your wins scale versus stronger opponents:
- Relying on opponents' blunders: several wins come after the opponent makes a tactical error. Work on creating winning plans when your opponent plays reasonably.
- Premature simplification after a tactical gain: taking material quickly is fine, but check for counterplay (e.g., trapped pieces, back-rank danger) before liquidating.
- Calculation depth: your sacrifices work because the follow-up is concrete — increase number of candidate moves you calculate (try to calculate one extra ply in complex lines).
- Endgame technique: a few wins came from time or resignation rather than textbook conversion. Studying basic rook vs minor, rook+pawn endgames and king activity will raise your conversion rate.
- Opening breadth vs depth: your win rates are fantastic in several specific lines, but you have a few lines (English Agincourt Defense, one loss) where an update or refresher would help.
Concrete, 4-week improvement plan
Small daily habits that will make immediate impact in rapid games.
- Daily tactics: 12–20 mixed puzzles a day, focus on visualization and candidate moves rather than speed. After each mistake, write one sentence why you missed it.
- Two slow training games per week (15+10 or 25|10): practice calculating longer variations and converting endgames calmly.
- Endgame sprint (3× / week): 15 minutes on basic techniques — king and pawn vs king, rook endings, mating patterns. Convert won positions without relying on opponent blunders.
- Opening tune-up (1 weekly session): pick one opening you play (example: Giuoco Piano: Tarrasch Variation or the London Poisoned Pawn) and review the 3–4 most common sidelines opponents played in your recent games.
- Post-mortems: analyze every loss and at least one win per week; ask “what changed the evaluation?” and annotate one line with an engine to confirm your calculations.
Mindset & practical tips for games
Helpful in-game habits to convert more consistently:
- Before accepting a capture or trading pieces, pause: list opponent’s immediate threats and your plan for the next 3 moves.
- If you see a sacrificial idea, first check the opponent’s best defense — don’t assume blunders. Ask: “If they reply best, do I still have compensation?”
- When ahead in material, simplify into clear technical wins (remove queens, activate king, trade down to winning endgames).
- Use the clock: if you’re winning, don’t rush — trade two or three moments of extra time for clearer calculation and fewer mouse slips.
Next steps for Roee
Actionable next moves (pick 2 this week):
- Do a focused review of the latest tactical win (use the PGN viewer above) and write down where you calculated and where you guessed.
- Complete three endgame puzzles (rook and pawn themes) and one long game at 15|10 with full analysis after.
- Refresh one opening you lost or struggled with (for example, your English Agincourt Defense line) — prepare a single reliable response to the common sideline.
If you want, I can prepare a 2-week tactic set based on patterns from your recent games and a short annotated version of the most recent win — tell me which you'd prefer.