Coach Chesswick
Hi Loïc (“PaimpolExpress”) — feedback from your latest streak of 60-second games
Quick snapshot
- Current bullet form: riding near 2958 (2025-06-02) with several 2800+ victories.
- Typical session profile: sharp, tactical, short games → many quick mates / time-outs; a few abrupt collapses.
Your core strengths
- Blistering initiative. You often reach positions like 23.Nf5+! (vs trollingg) while still over 40 s on your clock. Very few players keep both speed and creativity.
- Flexible opening choice. King’s Indian Attack, Torre, Pirc/Modern, English – opponents can’t prepare easily.
- Hunting the king. Once a file opens you shift pieces rapidly (e.g. 26.Rc8+ in the Torre game) and finish with direct mates.
- Resourcefulness under pressure. Even worse structures (…c5 vs UnknownMagician) are salvaged tactically.
Growth areas
- Dealing with early h-pawn storms vs …g6.
Your two most painful losses (plorpz & EnigmaticEntity07) followed d4/e4 – h4/h5 systems. After 4…Bf8 and 8…b6 you never recovered.
• Consider delaying …g6 until you know the h-pawn can’t hit you.
• Versus 1.d4 h4, try 1…d5 2.Nf3 g6 or even 1…f5 (Dutch) to stop h4-h5 altogether. - Preventive thinking. You rely on tactical solutions but sometimes ignore the quiet “last move” your opponent has (see 19…Nd4?? allowing 20.Bg5+ in the Modern loss). Insert one prophylactic move when ahead.
- Clock management in winning positions. Two defeats came by flag while you were objectively equal or better. In bullet:
- Adopt a “three-second rule” in simple winning endgames – pre-move forcing sequences.
- When material up, trade queens instantly; every exchange reduces calculation time.
- Endgame conversion. Rapid piece play is excellent; rook-plus-pawn endings look less confident (loss vs marshallgomez after 30…c5). Fifteen minutes each week on basic rook endgame drills will pay off.
Illustrative moment
Critical turning point vs plorpz (you were Black):After 10.c5 your light-squared bishop is trapped and White dictates the pace. Instead 10…Nc6 or 10…Be7 11.cxd6 Bxd6 keeps chances.
Practical training plan (2-week micro-cycle)
| Day | Focus | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mon / Thu | 10 x puzzles rated +200 | Emphasise defensive motifs (avoid tunnel vision). |
| Tue / Fri | 15 min rook-endgame drill | Use Lucena & Philidor setups; practise pre-moves. |
| Wed | Opening lab | Pick one anti-h-pawn line vs Modern and play 5 thematic blitz games. |
| Weekend | Play 20 | 10 rapid | Slow down; analyse with engine afterwards (no engine during play!). |
Opening tweaks to test
- As Black vs 1.e4: Retain the Pirc, but mix in occasional 1…e5 for surprise value and structural variety.
- As Black vs 1.d4 / 1.c4 with h-pawn. Explore the Dutch Stonewall (…f5, …d5, …e6, …c6) – it stops h4-h5 plans and gives you clear kingside ideas.
- As White: Your King’s Indian Attack is scoring well; add an early c4 plan so you can morph into an English when Black locks the centre.