Coach Chesswick
Hi Graciela!
You have an enterprising, tactical style that often overwhelms opponents rated around your level. Your recent peak is 2207 (2023-12-26) and the games provided show a solid overall win-rate (
). Below is a concise, game-based plan to push you past the next plateau.What’s already working
- Sharp openings as White. The Fantasy Caro (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3) and c3–Sicilian setups suit your desire for space and quick attacks; in the miniature vs PALMHO you mated on move 21.
- H-file & g-file pressure. In the French Exchange win against Mne2006 you combined …h5/h4 + …g5 to pry open your opponent’s king. Good instinct to create hooks.
- Tactical alertness. Motifs such as forks (25.Re8+!! vs Mne2006) and mating nets (19.Qh5+!! vs PALMHO) appear regularly in your games.
Key growth areas
- Time-management. Five of the six recent losses were on time in drawable or winning endings. Aim to reach move 25 with ≥50 % of your clock.
- Endgame conversion. Both losses to emptyflask slipped from equal rook-and-pawn endings. Technique, not tactics, decided them.
- Pawn-structure discipline. Early pawn thrusts (e.g. h4/h5 in the Larsen game vs wpierdoloshvili) leave weak squares and over-extend your king when the attack fizzles.
Three-week improvement plan
- Clock habits (Week 1).
• Play 10 practice games limiting yourself to two candidate moves before touching a piece.
• Finish each game with ≥30 s; resign hopeless positions instead of flagging. - Rook & pawn endings (Week 2).
• Work through 20 basic positions: Lucena, Philidor, and king-activity races.
• Re-create move 40 of the EmptyFlask game and convert vs the engine until you win in <40 moves. - Structural awareness (Week 3).
• After every blitz game write one sentence answering “Which pawn is weakest for me and why?”
• Study 5 model French or Sicilian structures focusing on outposts & Prophylaxis.
Opening touch-ups
- As Black vs 1.e4. Your French Exchange repertoire is solid but occasionally drifts into unclear middlegames. Consider adding the Rubinstein (…dxe4 …Bd7) to steer toward strategic positions when you’re low on energy.
- As White. The early f-pawn thrust is powerful if you castle first. When Black plays …Nf6/…g6, delay f3/f4 until your king is safe to avoid counter-shots like …Nxe4.
Diagnostic snapshots
• Hour-by-hour performance:
• Tactics in action:
Next checkpoint
After three weeks, send me 10 annotated games (wins and losses). We’ll track progress in time usage, pawn-structure comments, and conversion rate in simplified positions.
Keep enjoying the game—your creativity is already a weapon. With a steadier clock and cleaner endings, you’ll see your rating climb quickly.
¡Mucho éxito y a seguir creciendo!