Coach Chesswick
Hi Ivan_e95, here’s some constructive feedback based on your recent games!
1. What you’re already doing well
- Fighting spirit: You’re never afraid to look for tactics and you often spot mating patterns in the opponent’s back-rank. This is a good “killer instinct” that will continue to serve you.
- Time handling: Most of your wins are achieved with several minutes still on the clock, so you are not under severe time pressure in 10 | 0 games. Keep that relaxed pace―it gives room for careful calculation.
- Basic tactical vision: Forks such as 25.Qd6+ (vs sairam_nimmadi) and mating nets like 24…f2# (vs requiem_sk) show that when tactics are obvious you can execute them quickly.
2. Repeated problems that cost points
- Early queen development. Whether you play 2.Qf3 as White or 2…Qf6 as Black, the pattern is the same: the queen gets chased by minor pieces and you fall behind in development. Most of your losses start this way (see the games vs tyger1212 and AlbertoUbaldo). Follow the simple “don’t bring the queen out before move 5–6” guideline.
- King safety / castling. In several defeats your king stayed in the centre (e.g. 14…Ke5 vs Tyger1212) and was bombarded by checks. Make castling an automatic habit unless there is a concrete reason not to.
- Ignoring the centre. Moves such as …h6/…a6 on move 4 or pushing wing pawns early hand the centre to the opponent. Try to occupy the e- and d-files with pawns and pieces first.
- Tactical blind spots. You sometimes miss in-between moves (zwischenzug) and simple forks, e.g. 18…Rxe4? allowed 20.Nc7+ vs Tyger1212. Daily tactical puzzles will tighten this up.
3. Opening kit for the next 30 games
Use these principled systems that keep the queen safe, castle quickly and teach classical piece placement:
- With White (1.e4) – Play the Italian Game: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3. No early queen moves. Focus on development, centre, castle.
- With Black – Against 1.e4 choose the Scandinavian (1…d5) or the French (1…e6 2.d4 d5). Both give you clear plans and remove the temptation to play 2…Qf6.
4. Study plan (6-week micro-cycle)
- Tactics: 15 minutes a day on motifs such as fork, pin and double-checks. Aim for 100 puzzles/week with ≥70 % accuracy.
- Game review: After each session pick one win and one loss, replay them slowly and write down in a notebook:
- Where did I first break opening principles?
- What was the turning tactical shot (for either side)?
- Endgame basics: Spend one hour per week on king-and-pawn endings (opposition, “square” rule) because many of your games reach queen-less positions.
5. Quick illustration from your latest win
Notice how your queen danced around yet the deciding blow actually came from the connected passed pawn on f3:
If you reach similar positions without risking the queen early, you will win more smoothly.
6. Motivation corner
- Your current best live-rapid rating: – aim to beat it by +50 in the next month.
- Track when you play best: and . Schedule your serious games in the “green” zones.
Final thought
Shift your focus from “quick queen tricks” to “sound development + tactical accuracy”. Combine daily puzzles with stricter opening discipline and you’ll feel the rating climb quickly. Good luck, and enjoy the process!