Coach Chesswick
Quick summary
Good session overall — you converted a winning middlegame into a technical win vs underdog77 (see the replay below). Recent short-term form shows a small dip (1‑month change -23) but a positive medium trend (6‑month +40). Your Strength Adjusted Win Rate (~0.498) says you score about as expected vs similar opposition. Below are concrete, actionable points to keep the upswing going and cut down the avoidable losses.
Win: what you did well
Game: vs underdog77 — King’s Indian type position (King's Indian Defense / E70)
- You seized the initiative with an early central advance and used knight jumps to create tactical threats (Ne6+ and Nxf8 were decisive in material conversion).
- After winning material you simplified correctly — active rooks, exchanged where appropriate and marched a passed pawn. Good technique in the rook + pawn endgame phase.
- Practical clock handling: you kept enough time to finish the endgame while maintaining pressure (opponent eventually lost on time).
- Nice use of tactical motifs — forks and outpost knights — to convert advantage into concrete gains.
Replay (key moves & final position):
Losses: recurring issues to fix
Recent losses include a hard-fought Ruy Lopez game vs matrimonyvine (Ruy Lopez) and an English opening game vs progressivekid (English Opening). Key patterns:
- Time trouble cost you several games (opponents won on time and you lost on time too). Many of these were critical moments where a simpler plan or earlier simplification would have been safer.
- Miscalculations in complications: in a few middlegames you allowed decisive tactical shots (knight forks / back-rank tactics). When the position gets sharp, you sometimes keep the wrong trade-offs.
- Passive pieces in the middlegame: there were positions where rooks and queens could be activated earlier; stay alert to open files and rook lifts.
- Endgame technique in long queen/rook endgames can be improved — you gave up pawns or allowed active enemy counterplay instead of simplifying to a winning theoretical ending.
Patterns & habit checklist
From your database and openings performance:
- Your best win rates come from lines like the London Poisoned Pawn and similar systems — leverage those strengths (play what gives you clear plans).
- Some defenses (Döry Defense etc.) show slightly below‑par win rate — either update your lines or study typical plans there for 30–60 minutes.
- You do well when the game simplifies after a material gain. Aim to simplify earlier when ahead instead of hunting for extra brilliancies that risk counterplay.
- You have high game volume and a positive medium-term slope (+6m = +40). Maintain that with focused practice rather than random playing binges.
Concrete training plan (weekly)
- Daily tactics: 20–30 quick puzzles focusing on forks, pins and discovered attacks. Time yourself to simulate blitz pressure.
- Endgame drills: 3×10 minutes per week on rook + pawn endings, king + pawn vs king, and basic queen vs rook technique. Convert won positions under the clock.
- Opening focus: 2×30 minute sessions — review the typical pawn breaks and piece maneuvers in your top 3 openings (London System: Poisoned Pawn Variation, Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack, Australian Defense).
- Game review: after each blitz session, spend 10–15 minutes on the two most instructive games (one win, one loss). Identify the one key decision that changed the evaluation.
- Time management drill: play a short training run of 3|0 where you force yourself to make safe, practical moves under 10s in critical positions — practice simplifying when ahead.
Practical tips for next session
- When ahead in material: trade pieces (not pawns) and remove opponent activity — aim for a technical ending before the clock becomes critical.
- When low on time: pick safe moves that keep your position simple. Avoid complicated calculations unless they are forced wins.
- Watch for knight forks and back-rank motifs in your games — double-check checks and captures before you move in sharp positions.
- Use your opening repertoire to steer the game to positions you know well — your win rates show this is effective.
Short checklist to use between games
- Have I equalized development before launching tactics?
- If I win material, can I simplify safely next 5 moves?
- Am I entering time trouble? If yes — simplify and avoid risky lines.
- One last look for enemy tactical replies before I move (checks, captures, threats).
Follow-up
If you want, I can:
- Annotate the loss vs matrimonyvine move-by-move and point to the exact mistake(s).
- Create a 4-week training schedule tailored to your openings and weak spots.
- Produce a short tactics set (20 puzzles) curated from positions similar to the ones costing you the most points.
Which of these would you like next?