Coach Chesswick
Hi Manfred!
You’re playing consistently at a high level (2689 (2022-02-01)), and your recent results show an ambitious, forward-pressing style. Below is a structured review of what’s working well and where a few tweaks could produce the biggest rating gains.
1. Snapshot of your current game
- Typical openings
• With Black vs 1.e4: a mix of Sicilian sidelines (…Bf5, Najdorf-set-ups) and the Modern.
• With Black vs 1.d4: Grünfeld & Semi-Slav structures.
• With White: Queen’s Gambit / Catalan-style setups plus occasional King’s-Indian Attack ideas. - Game tempo: Mostly 3 | 0. Your clock handling is generally solid—finishing with 20–60 s is common.
- Result patterns: Sharp tactical wins when you seize the initiative early; painful losses when early material grabs backfire or when the king is exposed.
2. What you already do very well
- Initiative-first mindset – Moves like 14.f4 in the Semi-Slav win and 12.e5 in the Modern show you’re happy to dictate play.
- Tactical alertness – You frequently spot intermediate moves (e.g., 29.Rxf7! in your Caro-Kann victory).
- Piece activity – Minor pieces rarely get stuck behind your pawn chain; you seek out active squares quickly.
- Clock discipline – You rarely burn below 10 s; this is crucial at 180 s time controls.
3. Biggest improvement levers
- Early queen adventures
In both recent Sicilian losses the queen went to c8 and q5 squares before development was complete, leading to tempo losses and tactical targets.
Action: Adopt a simple “Develop three pieces before moving the queen off the back rank” rule. - Pawn-grab temptation
The Alapin loss (…Qxb7 9th move) shows the risk of accepting a poisoned pawn without verifying follow-up.
Action: When a free pawn appears in the opening, add a quick blunder-check routine: “What is my opponent’s next forcing move, and where does my queen retreat?” - King safety in sharp Sicilians
In several Najdorf-type games your king walked to e5–e4–f4 corridors. You often castle late while launching queenside play.
Action: Study model games where Black delays …e6/…g6 but still castles by move 10. Re-order moves to prioritize safety. - Endgame conversion
When you reach technical endings a pawn up (e.g., win vs. gugutkica), you still allow counter-play and burn clock.
Action: 30-minute weekly drill: play R+P vs R and opposite-colored bishop endings against an engine set to ≈2000 Elo until conversion is flawless.
4. Opening suggestions
| Current line | Observed issue | Upgrade idea |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian 2…d6 4.Be2 a6 5.0-0 g6 | Pieces drift; unclear plans | Test the Classical (…Nc6 …g6 …Bg7 …0-0) or commit to a full Najdorf with …e5 / …e6 dynamic |
| Modern 1…g6 2…d6 5…h5 | h-pawn rush gives White central space | Delay …h5; play a flexible Pirc order (…Nf6 …Bg7 …0-0) first |
| Caro-Kann with …Bg4 early | Works well—keep! Consider adding 3…c5 systems for variety | Watch GM games by M. Vachier-Lagrave for inspiration |
5. Training plan (4 weeks)
- Tactics – 25 puzzles/day focusing on queen traps & defensive resources.
- Opening refresh – Create 10-move flashcards for:
- Sicilian Najdorf main line
- Anti-Sicilians (Alapin, 2.c3, Smith-Morra)
- Grünfeld anti-h4 systems
- Endgame Friday – 1-hour session: rook endings & opposite-colored bishops.
- Play-Review loop – After each session save 1 critical position; annotate “Why did I choose this move?” – forces conscious learning.
6. Motivational note
Your aggressive style is your calling card—keep it! By tightening the early queen play and adding a dose of endgame technique, you’re on track to push well beyond your current peak.
Good luck at the board, and have fun improving!
—Your Chess Coach