Coach Chesswick
Hi Minh Pham!
Thanks for sharing your recent games. Your aggressive style and solid results show real potential. Below is a personalised review with specific, actionable steps to help you climb beyond the 1700 barrier.
1. Quick snapshot
- Current peak: 1600 (2025-03-08)
- Typical play window:
- Performance by weekday:
2. What you’re already doing well
- Opening variety. Mixing 1…c5 and 1…e5 keeps opponents guessing.
- Tactical alertness. Your wins vs hongngoc2920 show quick spotting of forks (19.exf8=Q+!) and back-rank tricks.
- Fighting spirit. Even in tough positions you hunt for active counter-play instead of drifting passively.
3. Priority fixes
- Anti-Sicilian defence.
The loss on 2025-06-01 began 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 and you were worse after 12…bxc4.- Adopt a clear system against Bc4 (Najdorf set-up: …a6, …e6, …b5 or the calmer Scheveningen: …e6, …Nc6, …Be7).
- Create a mini repertoire file and drill the first 10 moves with the opening explorer.
- Central-tension awareness.
Several defeats followed premature pawn pushes (…b5, …d5) without full calculation. Before every pawn move ask: “Will this open lines toward my king?” That question alone will erase many blunders. - Time management.
You often finish with <10 s even in winning positions. Try the “30-20-10” rule: keep 30 % of the initial time after the opening, 20 % entering the endgame, 10 % for conversion. Blunder checks become possible. - End-game conversion.
Game 2025-06-03 (Black) reached a won rook-and-pawn ending but you relied on the clock. Spend one week on basic rook endings (Lucena, Philidor). Practical end-game strength = free rating points.
4. Four-week training menu
| Day | 10-15 min | 15-20 min | 10 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon / Thu | Opening flash cards | Play 3 rapid games | Self-annotation |
| Tue / Fri | Puzzle Rush | Analyse failed puzzles | One end-game drill |
| Weekend | Review the week with engine & notes | ||
5. Glossary highlight
- Prophylaxis – moves that prevent the opponent’s plan; aim for at least one prophylactic thought each move.
- Exchange Sacrifice – you often play …Rxf3 or …Rxe3; study Petrosian’s classics to know when it truly works.
6. Motivational mini-game
Replay the critical tactical sequence from your sharpest recent win – a reminder of the power of activity:
Keep up the good work, Minh. Fix the three priority areas above and 1700 will be a stepping-stone, not a ceiling. Enjoy the journey!