Avatar of Matthew Fishbein

Matthew Fishbein NM

Matthew-Fishbein Maine Since 2011 (Active) Chess.com ♟♟♟♟♟
55.0%- 39.8%- 5.2%
Bullet 2656
1171W 864L 88D
Blitz 2556
1201W 885L 131D
Rapid 2607
89W 28L 12D
Daily 1490
5W 6L 0D
Coach Chesswick's Profile Photo
Coach Chesswick

Quick summary

Nice run — you converted multiple big advantages in recent bullet games (creating passed pawns, promoting, and forcing resignation or flag wins). Short‑term trend is up (+38 last month) and your strength‑adjusted win rate (~50.6%) shows consistent performance against comparable opposition.

Replay one clean finish (review)

Here’s the decisive game where you pushed a passed pawn to promotion and forced resignation. Replay the critical sequence to study how you created and protected the pawn and prevented counterplay:

  • Game vs bopielmarionglero2 — English / Caro‑Kann style middlegame.
  • Replay:

What you’re doing well

  • Converting pawn majorities into passed pawns and pushing them to promotion.
  • Keeping pieces active — rooks and bishops often end up on strong files/diagonals.
  • Opening consistency: several lines in your repertoire yield good win rates, so your preparation is effective.
  • Practical clock handling in bullet — you win on time and convert under pressure.

Recurring weaknesses to fix

  • Time trouble: some games show good positions lost to flagging. Manage the clock earlier in the game.
  • Endgame technique under clock: simple rook and pawn conversions and king placement can be tightened.
  • Tactical slips when simplifying — watch for checks, forks and back-rank ideas before committing to exchanges.
  • Tunnel vision after gaining advantage: aim to neutralize opponent counterplay rather than overpressing immediately.

Concrete, short‑term drills (daily / weekly)

  • 10–15 minutes tactics (focus on mate patterns and rook tactics). Solve under 10s to simulate bullet thinking.
  • 15 minutes endgame drill 3×/week: rook vs rook + pawn, king + pawn races, Lucena position practice.
  • Play 10 bullet games with a rule: when up material or a clear pawn advantage, simplify (trade pieces) to practice clean conversion.
  • 1 rapid game (10+0) daily to practice decision timing and reduce panic in time trouble.

Opening & middlegame adjustments

  • Keep using your best openings (your stats show clear strengths). Prioritize lines that give straightforward plans over messy complications in bullet.
  • When ahead, run a short checklist before complicating: king safety, opponent counterplay, can I trade pieces to simplify? If yes, trade.
  • Develop simple prophylactic moves to stop opponent counterplay (blockers, cuts, luft for the king) rather than hunting small gains.

Practical bullet tips

  • Premoves: use sparingly. Only premove when no plausible tactical reply exists.
  • If you have a passed pawn, put a rook behind it or cut the enemy king — that pattern wins many bullet games.
  • Practice a few forced endgame wins (rook behind pawn, king cutoffs) so you can convert quickly when low on time.
  • Consider some 1+1 sessions to build confidence converting with increments — fewer flag losses and cleaner technique.

4‑week study plan (practical)

  • Week 1 — Tactics + rook endgames: 10–15m tactics, 10× Lucena/Philidor drills. Play 20 bullets but simplify when ahead.
  • Week 2 — Opening consolidation: rehearse 3‑move plans in your core openings; study 5 model middlegames per opening.
  • Week 3 — Time management: play sessions with the rule “no premoves unless safe”; practice flagging while preserving technique.
  • Week 4 — Mixed consolidation: combine 10m tactics, 10m endgames, 2 rapid games to tie it together.

Personal reminders

  • When you see a passed pawn, ask “Can I put a rook behind it?” — if yes, prioritize that plan.
  • Neutralize opponent counterplay before starting a pawn race.
  • Flag wins are fine, but aim to win on the board too — that reduces variance and builds technique.

Next steps

Pick one drill from the list and start today (e.g., 10 minutes of rook endgames). If you want, I’ll generate a 2‑week micro plan with positions and daily tasks or a short set of training positions (Lucena, rook behind pawn, simple queen endgames).


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