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Alex Chua FM

highlama Portland, Oregon area Since 2014 (Active) Chess.com ♟♟♟♟♟♟
50.9%- 46.6%- 2.4%
Daily 1710 42W 1L 1D
Rapid 2350 58W 17L 4D
Blitz 2545 1589W 1461L 124D
Bullet 2433 4078W 3802L 145D
Coach Chesswick's Profile Photo
Coach Chesswick

Hi Alex, here’s some tailored feedback based on your recent bullet games!

1. Big-picture strengths

  • Dynamic opening choices – the English/Retí setup with 1 Nf3, g3 and c4 gives you flexible pawn structures and early piece play. It suits bullet very well.
  • Tactical alertness – in the win vs. kapitzd you spotted …Nb4–a5–…–Rc2! and converted the extra pawns cleanly. (Full game:

    .)
  • Practical decision-making – you often simplify when ahead on the clock, forcing the opponent to find only moves (e.g. vs. Михаил Пашинский).

2. Recurring issues to address

  • Time-for-accuracy balance – 5 of your last 6 losses were on time in equal or winning positions. Good moves don’t score if they never reach the board!
  • Over-ambitious pawn thrusts – examples: 16.f4 vs. Антон and 15.e4 in the Panov. They opened files before you were coordinated and cost critical seconds.
  • King safety late in the game – bullet rewards activity, but keep luft and avoid allowing perpetual checks that burn your clock (loss vs. getsetchill).

3. Opening tune-ups

• Against …b6/…Bb7 systems try 4.c4 followed by 5.Nc3 and a quick e4 or e3 – this scores well and keeps your structure compact.
• When you choose the Grand Prix Attack (f4, Bb5), remember the thematic break f5 only after Qe1–h4 or Qe1–g3; premature 12.e5 (vs. Rudranil2006) left holes on d4/e4.
• As Black, your Benko & Benoni frames are good, but study the critical 12.a4 Ra3 idea once more – the game vs. koki2018 shows where White can overextend and you can hit back with …b5 earlier.

4. Practical bullet tips

  • Adopt a “20-second rule” – if your clock dips below 20 s, switch to safe, one-move threats and pre-move captures/checks.
  • End every combination with a pre-move. After you play a forcing move, already queue the natural reply (e.g. recaptures). Saves ~½ s per turn.
  • Play a few 1 | 1 games. The increment trains you to finish won positions without the panic of 0.0 s scrambles; then return to 1 | 0 with better instincts.

5. Concrete study plan (⟂ ≈ 30 min/day)

  1. 10 min: drill K+P vs. K, Q vs. P, and basic rook endings on a trainer; this pays huge dividends in bullet.
  2. 10 min: solve 5-move tactics at 5 s per puzzle – mimics over-the-board speed.
  3. 10 min: replay one of your own losses at ½ speed, write a single sentence why the critical position went wrong.

6. Motivation & milestones

Your current 2330 (2025-04-09) is already impressive. A realistic short-term goal is +50 elo by tightening your clock handling alone.
Keep an eye on your performance graphs:

01234567891011121314151617181920212223100%0%Hour of Day
shows you score best late evening – maybe schedule key games then.
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun100%0%Day of Week
can reveal fatigue patterns.

Stay sharp and enjoy the grind, Alex – you’re very close to the next level!


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