Alfred (Kalli) Kohler

Hi Alfred (“Kalli”)

Your current profile at a glance

• Peak Daily rating: 1720 (2015-06-16)
• Peak Rapid rating: 1668 (2014-10-25)
• Peak Blitz rating: 1461 (2014-03-18)

These numbers confirm that you are already a solid intermediate player with a good feel for both strategy and tactics. The score-board below suggests that you do best in games started late in the evening, and that Mondays and Tuesdays are particularly productive for you:

What you do well

1. Practical tactical vision
   Your recent win against lady-tatyana shows that you can calculate concrete lines with confidence. Notice how the sequence 16…Ng5 17.Re3 Rxf2 18.Rf3 Rxf3 seized the initiative and converted it into a winning end-game. Here is the critical fragment:
   
   
2. Willingness to play dynamic openings
   The Dutch, the Philidor Defense and the Old-Indian all create imbalanced positions that suit your fighting style.
3. End-game persistence
   In the live game versus le_dhul you patiently converted an extra pawn in a rook & minor-piece ending even after the queens left the board. Your technique of activating the king (moves 60-70) was textbook.

Where rating points are escaping

1. Time management in daily games
   Five of your six most recent losses were on time. The positions were still playable, so those rating points are “free” once you set up a routine: check the site twice a day, use the vacation feature when needed and add a calendar reminder 24 h before every critical deadline.
2. Opening depth against 1.e4
   The Philidor is solid but the move 5…d5 in the Nimzowitsch line leaves the bishop on b4 hanging and gave White an easy initiative in your loss to blondicat. Consider adding one of the following:
   • A classical 1…e5 repertoire (e.g. Petroff or 5…Be7 Philidor)
   • A completely new defence such as the Caro-Kann to refresh your middlegame structures
3. Over-extended pawn pushes
   In the rapid win vs jamesboversleach you advanced pawns on both wings (g- and h-files) and were lucky that Black could not exploit the holes around your king. Make sure every pawn move serves a clear purpose.
4. Piece coordination in the early middlegame
   When you play 6…Bb4 in many Philidor lines you often fall a tempo behind because the bishop lacks a retreat square. Develop pieces toward the centre first, then look for pins.

Action plan for the next 4-6 weeks

Quick tips to remember during play

• Before pushing a pawn, ask “What squares am I giving up?”
• Use the two-question method: “What is my opponent’s threat? What is my best move?” prophylaxis
• In end-games, active king > extra pawn—bring the king first.
• When short of time, simplify complicated positions rather than trying to calculate long tactical lines.

Keep up the fighting spirit, Alfred! With a tighter daily routine and a bit of focused opening work you are well on your way to breaking the next rating barrier.