Coach Chesswick
Overview for Rodrigo Mendoza Acuna
You're building a solid rapid game foundation with a reliable opening system and steady improvement across several areas. The data suggests you perform well in the London System family, while some other openings have yielded mixed results. The focus now should be on converting more chances, sharpening your endgame technique, and improving efficiency under time pressure.
What you’re doing well
- Your London System: Poisoned Pawn variations appear to suit your style, giving you a solid setup and clear middlegame plans. This creates favorable conditions to outplay opponents who are less familiar with the structure you aim for.
- Consistency in piece development: you tend to develop pieces smoothly and maintain a coherent pawn structure, which helps you stay flexible in the early middlegame.
- Resilience in middlegame transitions: you handle various pawn structures and minor piece maneuvers with a willingness to press when opportunities arise.
Areas to improve
- Time management in rapid games: adopt a simple, repeatable decision process for the first 15 moves and use a quick check-in at critical moments to avoid rushed errors.
- Endgame conversion: practice converting small material advantages into wins, especially in rook and minor piece endgames, to maximise results from promising positions.
- Opening breadth and backup plans: some openings show mixed results; consider adding a solid backup system to handle opponents who neutralize your main setup. London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation
- Calculation discipline in tactical-rich positions: slow down slightly at key junctures to verify forcing lines and avoid overcalling captures or moving into traps.
Practical training plan (next 4 weeks)
- Openings: continue refining the London System Poisoned Pawn Variation and establish a reliable backup system for against common defenses. Include focused study on typical pawn structures and plan ideas for both sides. London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation
- Tactics: complete 15–20 minutes of daily tactics to improve pattern recognition and quick calculation, mixing straightforward motifs with a few tactical puzzles each session.
- Endgames: dedicate time to rook endings and basic queen endings; practice practical conversion drills to convert advantages cleanly.
- Game reviews: after each rapid game, write a brief note identifying one turning point and one concrete improvement to apply next time.
Recommended study materials
- Opening ideas for the London System to reinforce typical plans and when to shift gears in the middlegame.
- Solid backup structures for the Caro-Kann and Slav families to handle opponents who challenge your main setup.
- Endgame resources focused on rook endings and minor-piece endings to accelerate conversion skills. Consider exploring Rook Endgames topics.