Avatar of Marshall Todd

Marshall Todd

is-this-the-krusty-krab Pyongyang Since 2025 (Inactive) Chess.com ♟♟♟
50.0%- 47.8%- 2.2%
Bullet 181
3W 4L 0D
Blitz 100
0W 2L 0D
Rapid 520
19W 13L 1D
Daily 766
1W 3L 0D
Coach Chesswick's Profile Photo
Coach Chesswick

Overview for Marshall Todd

Nice work keeping a steady upward trend over the last few months. Your recent rapid record shows steady activity and a positive strength adjusted win rate of about 55 percent. You had a strong burst recently (three month +80), with a small dip in the last month. Below I highlight what you are doing well, key areas to focus on, and concrete steps to improve.

  • Overall record: Wins 16, Losses 13, Draws 1
  • Strength adjusted win rate: 0.548 (about 55%)
  • Recent rating trend: positive overall, short term dip -5

What you are doing well

  • Active piece play and tactical finishing. You converted a decisive tactic into mate in the game Rxc8# - review: Rxc8# vs gooobleee.
  • Good at opening the position and using rooks on open files. That shows up in multiple wins where you control the file and then finish with combinational threats.
  • You have a few very successful opening lines (for example Australian Defense and Caro-Kann had high win rates). Favor keeping and sharpening those lines rather than switching too often.
  • Resilient in tactical skirmishes. Even when the position gets messy you often find concrete moves that win material.

Key areas to improve

  • Opening selection and preparation - you currently have a poor record in the Alekhine Defense. If you face it as Black or play it as White repeatedly, either stop using it until you study it or learn the main defensive plans: Alekhine Defense.
  • Endgame technique - your most recent loss shows a long conversion by the opponent who promoted a passed pawn. Review rook and pawn endgames and practice defending against passed pawns. See the game here: Loss vs Aze-Ali and study the critical moment where the opponent marched the pawn to promotion.
  • Pawn structure and prophylaxis - in several losses you let the opponent create a dangerous passed pawn or a protected passed pawn. Add a habit of asking: "Can my opponent create a passed pawn next?" before committing pawn moves.
  • Time management under complexity - in sharp middlegames allocate a minute or two to calculate critical forcing lines. In rapid games this pays off more than trying to keep a uniform pace.

Specific game notes

  • Rxc8# vs gooobleee - Review game
    • What went right: You used rooks on open files and exploited back rank weaknesses.
    • Takeaway: Learn to hunt for back rank motifs and force rooks onto the right file early.
  • Win by opponent abandonment vs jelly_chrochetsweater - Review game
    • What went right: Strong pressure on the queenside and timely material capture forced a collapse.
    • Takeaway: When you win material, slow down and convert methodically. Look for safe ways to trade into a winning endgame.
  • Loss vs Aze-Ali (promoted pawn) - Review game
    • What went wrong: The opponent generated a passed pawn and you were not able to blockade it and simplify into a drawn endgame.
    • Practical fix: When facing an advancing passed pawn, prioritize blockades, active king, and exchanges that reduce the opponent's ability to queen.

Concrete practice plan (small, repeatable steps)

  • Daily 10 minute tactics: focus on forks, pins, back rank mates, and discovered attacks. These reward you quickly in rapid games.
  • Two 20 minute sessions per week: rook endgames and basic pawn endings. Practice Lucena and basic rook vs pawn techniques.
  • Openings: pick one reliable repertoire choice for White and Black. Based on your stats, continue with lines that give you confidence (Australian Defense, Caro-Kann or Colle). Spend one session learning typical middlegame plans from those openings.
  • One longer game per week (15+10): use it to practice long-term planning and endgame conversion without the time pressure of rapid.

Pre-game checklist (quick)

  • Confirm your opening plan for the first 8 moves.
  • Scan opponent threats before making pawn moves that create weaknesses.
  • If you win material, ask "Can I simplify safely?" before rushing.
  • In potential pawn race or passed pawn scenarios, activate your king early and trade when it reduces opponent's queenside majority.

Next steps for your next session

  • Review the three linked games above move by move and label the turning points: tactic, missed defence, or strategic slip.
  • Do a 10 minute tactic set focused on back rank mates and pins.
  • Spend one session on rook endgames. If you want, I can give a short 7-day training plan tailored to your schedule.

Want me to build a plan?

If you want a 7-day or 30-day drill plan targeted at tactics, endgames, and one opening, tell me how many minutes per day you can commit and I will create it. If you prefer, I can also annotate one of the games move-by-move with simple comments.


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