Coach Chesswick
Feedback for FloydFerris
Your current snapshot
Peak blitz rating: 2911 (2024-03-20)
What you are doing well
- Dynamic opening choices. The Najdorf English-Attack and the audacious 3…f5 Jaenisch Gambit continually steer play into sharp, double-edged positions that suit your style and often knock strong rivals such as aquariusman2006 out of book early.
- Tactical awareness. You calculate forcing lines quickly and accurately. A striking example is the recent finish
which shattered Black’s king and forced resignation. - Initiative & piece activity. Your rooks routinely land on the seventh rank and your knights leap into f5/d6 squares before the opponent can organise. Many of your 3-minute wins are miniature master-classes in momentum.
- Psychological pressure. Pawn sacrifices, early …Qg6 ideas, and daring king walks keep opponents guessing and burn their clock—an important edge in 3|0 chess.
Growth opportunities
- Endgame conversion. Both losses against Valery Kazakouski arose from endings that were still objectively holdable. Strengthen your R+P and minor-piece technique so that the hard work done in the middlegame is not wasted in move 40-60.
- Over-extension of flank pawns. Early g/h thrusts (e.g., 8.h4 & 9.g4 in the Sämisch) can backfire when the opponent seizes the centre. Before pushing a pawn ask the classic Prophylaxis question: “What will my opponent do next if I play this move?”
- Time management. Reaching critical positions with <15 s forces you into bullet-style decisions. Develop the habit of thinking during your opponent’s move and pre-selecting candidate replies so that your clock starts from a position of clarity.
- Defensive technique. In slightly worse French and London positions you slipped from “holdable” to “lost” in a single move. Weekly “defence only” drills—set up a bad position versus an engine and try to hold for 30 moves—will build resilience.
Action plan for the next two weeks
- Play five slow (15|10 or longer) games devoted exclusively to endgame clarity. Annotate every move where you hesitated.
- Solve 20 rook-and-pawn studies. Focus on active king and outside passed pawn motifs.
- Review Kramnik model games with the London & Sämisch structures to see how he balances attack and king safety.
- Track each blitz session: did you spend >15 s on a non-forcing move? If yes, screenshot the position and analyse it offline.
Quick reference reminders
• Improve your worst-placed piece before calculating another sacrifice.
• When attacking, a quiet Zwischenzug is often deadlier than the flashiest check.
• In endings remember the triangle: King activity → Passed pawn → Piece activity.
Keep your trademark energy, add a dose of restraint, and 2900 is within reach. Good luck!