Coach Chesswick
Hi metalox78, here is some personalised feedback based on your recent blitz games.
What you are already doing well
- Consistent Opening Repertoire. As Black you rely on the Caro-Kann (…c6 & …d5) and against 1.d4 you answer with solid systems (…b6, Englund-style gambits, etc.). Having a fixed repertoire in 3-minute games gives you more clock for the middlegame.
- Tactical alertness. The miniature below from your win vs elcolector shows you spotting the powerful 23…Ndf4! and finishing with …Qxc2#. Quick, forcing play is an asset in blitz.
- Converting material advantages. Several of your wins feature clean “technical” finishes once you are ahead, e.g. the exchange-sacrifice followed by push-promotion vs Hangman79.
Main areas to focus on next
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Time management.
Half of your recent losses were on time in roughly equal or even winning positions (e.g. vs marcoslagbas, Six8bartend, Shuriken7). Try to:- Spend the opening moves nearly instantly – you know the lines.
- Use the “buddy system”: every 5 moves glance at your clock; if you are under 40 sec, simplify or enter an endgame you can pre-move.
- Study practical endgames so that you can blitz them out with confidence. time management
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Pawn-structure discipline.
In several defeats (Bird’s Opening & Advance Caro-Kann) you pushed pawns aggressively without completing development, leaving dark-square holes and backward pieces. Before advancing a wing pawn ask: “Does this create a new weakness on the colour complex behind it?” -
Critical-moment calculation.
You usually see the first tactic, but occasionally miss the second one. Example: after 20…Qh2+ (Bird’s game) the follow-up was winning, yet too much time was spent and the attack fizzled. Train short, forced sequences (“tactics in 3-4 ply”) daily. candidate moves, zwischenzug
Opening-specific tips
- Caro-Kann Exchange (4…Nxd2). In the win vs KingScrew you played the modern …Qe6 & …Rad8 plan – good. In the loss vs Six8bartend you allowed White’s kingside pawn-storm. Consider 6…c5 or 7…cxd4 to hit the centre before it rolls.
- Bird’s/Englund gambit lines. Your piece play is fun, but don’t let it cost you the clock. Memorise 2-3 critical ideas (…Qh4+, …Bb4+) so you can play them rapidly.
- London-system as White. The early h3/Bf4 move-order works, yet you sometimes miss the typical e4 break. Drill a couple of model games where White opens the centre once Black’s bishop leaves c8.
Action plan for the coming week
- 10-minute tactics each day (rated puzzles at ~1800-2000).
- Play 5 games of 5 + 2 (slightly slower) focusing only on not flagging.
- Analyse one of your time-loss games without engine; write down two ways you could have saved 20 seconds.
- Revisit the basic king-and-pawn vs king endings until you can play them nearly blindfold.
Quick stats & trends
Peak blitz rating: 1991 (2021-01-27)
Keep up the good work!
You already demonstrate strong tactical instincts and a clear opening repertoire. Tightening up clock handling and a bit more structural awareness will push you past the 1900 barrier soon. Good luck!