Coach Chesswick
Quick review — most recent win
Nice finish in the game vs jannelmarez — you converted an active piece advantage and your opponent resigned after a final pressure on the back rank and center. Below is the game so you can replay the key moments on your phone:
Opening: Indian Game (ECO E00)
Replay (tap to open):
Winner: newchesscorner64 (resignation)
What you did well
- You spot tactical opportunities quickly — several wins show clean execution of tactical motifs (forks, pins, mating nets). Keep that up.
- Good pattern recognition in the middlegame — you repeatedly convert active rooks and queens into decisive pressure on the opponent’s king or weak pawns.
- Finishing instincts are strong — multiple games ended in checkmate or resignation rather than messy conversions. That shows practical technique under blitz time controls.
- Opening preparation is clearly paying dividends — your win rates in sharp lines like the Sicilian Defense and Caro‑Kann are high, so your repertoire suits your style.
Recurring weaknesses to fix
- King safety after early pawn grabs — in the recent game you captured material but let your king shuffle (Kxd2→Kc2 etc.) and momentarily became exposed. When you take pawns or launch flank operations, check king safety first.
- Handling active knights — opponents exploited knight outposts and forks (Nb3+/Nxa1 type sequences). Watch for squares like b4/b3/d4 and remove/neutralize the knight before it forks your pieces.
- Time management — a few wins were achieved while short on time. You win when you don’t flag, but time trouble reduces calculation quality. Keep a small buffer (10–15 seconds) for critical positions.
- Overextending pawn structure — pushing too many side pawns opened files for enemy pieces in a couple of games. When you expand, have a plan to keep pieces safe and control open lines.
Concrete drills and practice plan (next 2 weeks)
- Tactics: 15 puzzles per day focused on forks, skewers, and pins. Set the timer: 3 minutes per puzzle batch to simulate blitz pressure.
- Mini‑endgames (3× a day): rook vs minor piece, basic queen+rook vs rook, and simple pawn races. Practice converting or defending with 5–10 minute rapid games.
- Opening focus: consolidate 1–2 key lines. You do well in sharp systems — pick two sidelines where your win rate lags (for example the Alapin lines show mixed results) and study 5 model games each.
- Time control training: play 5 blitz games with the rule “do not drop below 20s” — if you reach 20s, pause and review the last critical 5 moves before continuing.
Positional checklist for blitz (quick reminders)
- Before grabbing a pawn: count checks, captures, threats (1‑move safety test).
- If the opponent has an active knight near your king, look for trades or pawn breaks to remove it.
- Open file detected? Put a rook on it quickly and aim for the opponent’s 7th/8th ranks.
- Endgame simplifying rule: when ahead in material, trade down to a won endgame; when behind, keep pieces on to preserve counterplay.
Opening notes — where to prioritize study
You already have a strong opening foundation (excellent results in the Sicilian and Caro‑Kann). To squeeze more wins:
- Review the Alapin and Closed Sicilian ideas where your win rates dip — model games and typical pawn breaks will help turn marginal positions into wins. (Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation)
- Keep your core lines shallow and practical for blitz — memorize typical tactical shots and 3–4 move plans rather than long theoretical novelties.
Sample tactical themes to drill this week
- Forks from knights landing on d4/e5/c3.
- Back‑rank ideas and mating nets — practice spotting the trapped king and creating flight‑square issues. (Back rank mate)
- Decoy/deflection tactics when opponent’s pieces defend a key square.
Next steps — 3‑point action plan
- Daily: 15 tactical puzzles + 3 rapid endgame drills (10–20 minutes total).
- Weekly: review 5 losses and 5 wins — annotate why the turning point happened (material, king safety, time trouble).
- Play 10 slower games (10+5) this week to test positional improvements and avoid reflexive pre‑moves.
Want a deeper analysis?
If you want, paste one loss and one win (or let me pick key positions from the PGN above) and I’ll give move‑by‑move suggestions and 3 tactical exercises tailored to those positions.
Also: check games vs valeriamoony and bonitachess for more examples of your finishing technique — you can extract model ideas to reuse in future blitz games.