Coach Chesswick
Quick summary
Michal — overall you’re playing very well in rapid: high win rate, clean conversion of advantages and strong opening results in several Sicilian lines and the Caro‑Kann. Your games show good attacking instincts and an ability to convert passed pawns into decisive threats. The main areas to target now are time management, a few recurring endgame weaknesses (rook + pawn endings and passed pawn races) and avoiding tactical counterplay when simplifying.
What you’re doing well
- Active piece play and initiative — you push aggressively when the position allows (example: the recent win in the Nimzo-Indian Defense Leningrad game where you advanced the h/pawn and created a decisive passed pawn run).
- Creating and using passed pawns — you convert pawn majority/connected pawn advantages into real threats and often force the opponent to create weaknesses defending them.
- Good opening results — your numbers show strong win rates in the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation and Caro-Kann Defense. That means your preparation and understanding there pay off in practice.
- Finishing ability — when you get a material or positional edge you tend to press it to a win rather than allow easy escapes.
Recurring issues to fix
- Time trouble. Several games end with very little clock left (you even lost a game on time). Work on earlier time allocation and simple decision rules in critical phases.
- Endgame technique — rook endings and handling of advanced enemy passed pawns can be improved. A couple of losses/dangerous moments arose from less-than-precise play in simplified positions.
- Tactical backfires when simplifying — sometimes exchanges that look natural let the opponent activate counterplay (queenside/rook infiltration or a sudden passed pawn). Double-check simplifications when the opponent gets counterplay.
- Occasional looseness around the king when advancing pawns in front of it. Your attacks are good, but make sure your own back‑rank/king squares aren’t left vulnerable after a pawn storm.
Concrete, actionable next steps
- Time management routine:
- In rapid (10 + increment), spend no more than 3–4 minutes on the opening and early middlegame; save thinking time for critical tactical or endgame decisions.
- When you have >6 minutes, aim to reach a “safe” middlegame position with 4–6 minutes left. If you’re ahead on the clock, simplify calmly; if behind, keep tension but avoid long calculations.
- Endgame drills (weekly micro‑goals):
- 30 minutes: basic rook endgames (Lucena, Philidor, key rook maneuvers) until you can convert simple wins and defend draws reliably.
- 15–20 minutes: practice pawn races and king + pawn vs king scenarios (outside passed pawn technique).
- Tactics & calculation:
- Daily: 8–12 tactics (repeat same theme for a week: pins, forks, back‑rank, promotion tactics).
- When solving, practice “longer look” positions (do a 5–8 minute calculation exercise on 1–2 puzzles to simulate critical game moments).
- Opening focus:
- Polish the lines you play most: review typical move orders and one typical plan for both sides in your main Alapin and Najdorf lines. Add 1–2 relevant sidelines you see opponents playing.
- From your results: continue sharpening the Najdorf and Caro‑Kann lines where your win rate is high; for the Alapin (mixed results) focus on critical move orders where you lost.
- Post‑game routine:
- Annotate the two most recent losses and one close win within 24 hours. Identify the single turning point per game (a bad time allocation, a missed tactic, a simplification mistake) and write a 1‑sentence rule to avoid repeating it.
Short 4‑week training plan (example)
- Week 1 — Time & tactics: 10 rapid games (10+3) focusing on reaching move 20 with ≥4 minutes. Daily 10 tactics. 2×30 min rook endgame videos/practice.
- Week 2 — Openings: 4 study sessions of 30 minutes each on your Sicilian Alapin and Najdorf repertoires. Play 6 rapid games applying studied lines.
- Week 3 — Endgames & conversion: focused drills: Lucena/Philidor, passed‑pawn races, 20 positions practice. Continue daily tactics (shorter list).
- Week 4 — Play & review: tournament block or 15 rapid games; after each session review worst mistake + best decision. Repeat what worked and adjust time usage.
Examples from your recent games (notes)
- Win (2025.08.04 vs GRINGODELOESTE) — you converted a passed pawn and used rook penetration + promotion to finish with a mating net. Strong: pushing the g/h pawns and switching rooks to the 3rd/4th rank. Tip: keep checking counterplay when advancing pawns in front of your king.
- Loss (2025.07.16 vs leo271207) — ended on time after a complicated middlegame with lots of trades. The position got tactical and you spent much time earlier. Tip: simplify earlier if you are short on time and your opponent has active pieces.
- Mixed: a game where you traded into rook vs rook endings and the opponent’s passed pawn got rolling — practice the standard defensive techniques (building the bridge, using the rook behind the pawn).
Checklist for your next session
- Warm up with 6 tactical puzzles (5–10 minutes).
- Play a 10+3 rapid session — aim to keep ≥4 minutes at move 20.
- After the session, pick 2 games: annotate the turning point in each (one positive, one negative).
- 20 minutes of rook endgame practice (one theme: Lucena or Philidor).
Final notes & encouragement
Your rating trend and strength‑adjusted win rate show you’re improving rapidly. Small, focused work on time control and basic endgames will give you the biggest short‑term gains. You already have the tactical sense and finishing ability — tighten the clock and the technical endings and you’ll convert even more games.
If you’d like, I can:
- Generate a 4‑week calendar with daily drills tailored to your schedule
- Annotate one of the recent losses with line‑by‑line suggestions
- Build a short opening packet (5–6 key lines + plan) for your Alapin / Najdorf choices
Which of those would you like next?