Coach Chesswick
Hi Dylan Ian – personalised post-game notes
What you already do well
- Dynamic pawn storms. In your latest win you uncorked g4 and h3/h4 against the Caro-Kann, forcing Black into permanent retreat. You clearly feel comfortable seizing space on the wings.
- Tactical eye. 12.Nxd5!! in that same game is a textbook use of an overloaded queen – nice calculation.
- Opening range. You alternate between 1.e4, 1.Nf3 and 1.d4, denying opponents home-prep and showing healthy curiosity.
Biggest improvement levers
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Clock management
Five of the six recent defeats ended “lost on time”. You often reach move 30 with single-digit seconds while the opponent still has 30-60 s.- Adopt a “3-second rule” for non-critical replies.
- Think on the opponent’s time; form a tree of candidate moves before the clock flips back.
- Play a daily streak of 3-min games with the goal “finish each move with >10 s reserve”.
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Over-extension of wing pawns
Early g- and h-pawn thrusts work when the centre is closed; otherwise they invite counter-punches (see 2020 loss to wateenonzin where …c6/…b5 blew open your own king). Ask “can my king become the new target?” before pushing a flank pawn. -
Black repertoire vs 1.d4
Most Black losses arise from Modern / Rat setups (…g6 …d6 …e5) that leave you passive. Consider adding a sound main line such as the Slav, QGA, or even a simple Queen’s Gambit Declined. A compact file with moves 1-10 will pay huge dividends. -
End-game conversion
Several time-losses occurred in technically winning endings (e.g. bishop vs knight vs SlowFeasus). Ten minutes of rook-and-pawn drills per day will lift this ceiling fast.
Illustrative moment – game vs matwe2
Black to move after 17.hxg4 Bxg4:
Your choice 18…Rf8? let White’s pieces flood in. First secure the bishop (…a5! …h6) before doubling rooks.
Training plan for the next two weeks
- Puzzle Rush (survival) until you average 35+. Aim for accuracy under time.
- Two 10|5 rapid games after every blitz session; annotate one critical decision each.
- Write a one-page cheat-sheet for Black vs 1.d4 – review it before playing.
Motivation
Your historical peak is still visible: 2523 (2017-12-04). With tighter time-handling and a sturdier Black repertoire you can beat it this season.
Track the upswing here:
Keep the energy, tame the clock, and watch the rating climb.
— Coach Bot