Coach Chesswick
Hi NooMerccyy – personalised coaching report
Quick snapshot
- Peak blitz rating: 2858 (2025-06-03)
- Hourly performance trend:
- Win-rate by day:
Strengths to keep building on
- Opening versatility. You comfortably switch between 1.e4, 1.d4 and the English, and defend with Sicilian, King’s Indian / Hippo set-ups and Caro-Kann. This keeps opponents guessing and often nets an early clock edge.
- Dynamic piece play. Your best wins (e.g. vs Fever_Code and nurgyulsalimova) come from rapid mobilisation and active rook lifts. You rarely shy away from complications and usually calculate tactics accurately.
- Converting initiative. When you get the first attack you score heavily – especially after you’ve opened files toward the enemy king.
Recurring issues that are costing points
- Time pressure. Four of your last six losses were either flag-falls or blunders made in heavy zeitnot. Even several wins relied on your opponent’s clock. Good as your tactics are, they drop sharply once you’re under 10 seconds.
- End-game technique. Positions such as the rook & pawn ending vs Andrej Ljepic or the Q + minor vs pawns in your Caro-Kann loss show hesitation converting small advantages and defending inferior endings. When the attack fizzles you sometimes run out of plans.
- Over-extension of flank pawns. In both the English (loss to Maitreia) and Najdorf (loss to blefer66) pushing …a5/a4 or …h5/h4 too early created weak squares that White later exploited. A bit of prophylaxis would have saved the position.
Focused improvement plan
- Clock management drill. • Play 3-minute + 2 s increment for a week – never allow yourself below 20 seconds until move 30.
• After each session note one moment where you “thought for nothing” and one where you moved too fast. - End-game routine (20 min/day).
• Alternate days: (a) rook endings, (b) pawns-only, (c) minor-piece vs pawns.
• Re-create critical endings from your own games and play them against the engine from both sides until you hold/convert three times in a row. - Self-review checklist before every pawn push on the flank.
① Does it create a square the opponent can occupy?
② Do I have a clear follow-up if they ignore it?
③ Can I achieve the same goal with a piece manoeuvre instead? - Opening fine-tuning. Your Sicilian Najdorf setup is solid but the early …h5/h4 plan versus long-castle lines is risky. Consider the thematic …Rc8, …Be7, …b5 plan instead. Revise 15 model games by top players where Black patiently prepared the break.
Mini-homework position
From your loss vs Maitreia (move 14): Black to move.
Ask yourself: “What is actually threatened? Can I finish development with …Nc6 or …Qe7 instead of the tempting but loose …Rd4?” Do this mental interrogation in every critical moment.
Motivation corner
You’re already beating 2800-rated blitz players on a regular basis – polishing the three areas above can easily push you past 2900. Small improvements in technique and clock handling will let your natural tactical flair shine through.
Good luck, keep grinding, and see you over the board!