Coach Chesswick
Hi Dmitry (“dzil”) – Performance Review & Action Plan
1. Current snapshot
You are hovering just below master level in 3-minute games with a peak of
.
Your overall trend is positive — especially during late-evening
sessions.
2. What you are already doing well
- Opening versatility. You switch comfortably between 1.e4, 1.d4 and even Chess960 structures, making prep against you difficult.
- Early central counter-punches. In the win vs. Rook_Solid2002 (Giuoco Pianissimo) the energetic 6…d5 seized the initiative straight away.
- Tactical alertness under time pressure. The 24…fxg4! 25…Qxf2+ combination from the same game shows quick, accurate calculation.
- Crisp end-game technique. Several conversions (e.g. vs. FizzyBand, diagram below)
prove that once you’re a pawn up you rarely let it slip.
3. Biggest improvement levers
-
Prophylaxis & king safety.
In the loss to Rodwell Makoto an innocent-looking 15.Nxf6+ exploited dark-square weaknesses you hadn’t covered. Build the habit of asking “prophylaxis — what does my opponent want if I pass?” before every move. -
Pawn-structure understanding in Benko-type positions.
As White against Joan Trepat Herranz you accepted the pawn but later let …f5–f4 and …Nb4 crash through. Study three model games (Topalov & Mamedyarov) where White returns the pawn for central control instead of nursing it. -
Piece coordination in closed centres.
In the Chess960 defeat vs. MartinBezuch you locked the centre with d4-d5/e4-e5 yet left heavy pieces stuck on the a-file. Practise manoeuvring knights to c4/e4 or f5, then doubling rooks before breaking through. -
Practical time management.
Most decisive mistakes happened after dropping below 30 s (e.g. 24…Nc4? in the Chess960 loss). Set a soft limit: make each non-forcing middlegame decision by 40–60 s to keep your increment buffer alive.
4. Two-week drill schedule
| Day | Task |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Annotate the English-Opening loss up to move 20; list at least two safe alternatives for every error. |
| 3-4 | Watch three model Benko-Accepted games; play ten 5-minute sparring games vs. engine starting from move 6. |
| 5-6 | 50 tactical puzzles featuring knight hops like Nxf6, Ng5, Nxd5. |
| 7 | One 15|10 training game with the sole focus “ask opp?” every move. |
| 8-9 | Chess960 middlegame planner: random positions – map ideal squares for each piece before moving. |
| 10-12 | End-game maintenance: solve 15 rook-and-pawn studies. |
| 13-14 | Review all notes, update opening files, repeat key positions blindfold. |
5. Quick reference checklist
- Before pushing …c5 or …f5, guard long diagonals (b1–h7, a2–g8).
- If an enemy knight lands on h5/g5, inspect mating nets on h7/h2 instantly.
- With opposite-coloured bishops, push pawns on both colours to restrict the defender.
- Use your increment — with 5 s left, play a safe move rather than hunting perfection.
Keep challenging higher-rated opponents and refining these points. Your tactical eye and fighting spirit are already master-class — sharpening strategic patience will push you beyond in the next few months.