Coach Chesswick
Hi Panevezys – here is some tailored feedback based on your recent blitz games.
What you are already doing well
- Flexible openings. With 1 d3, 1 Nf3 and the English-type setups you keep opponents guessing and often steer the game into less-theoretical waters.
- Handling of imbalanced pawn structures. Your win against fmgaho2005 shows excellent feel for locked pawn chains and for creating outside passed pawns in the late middlegame.
- Conversion skills when ahead. Once you reach winning positions you rarely blunder the full point – the technical phase in moves 52-65 of the same game was clean.
- Peak strength. 2864 (2022-05-28) testifies to your overall playing strength; you are already competitive with titled opposition.
Main growth areas
- Early piece activity against direct pressure. In the loss to GM_D85 you allowed White’s queen-bishop battery (4 Qb3 & 5 Ne5) to gain time on your minor pieces. Aim to complete development before retreating pieces. A practical antidote is 4…dxc4 or 4…Qb6, fighting for the initiative.
- Time management. Several results (e.g. on 05-Nov-21) were decided by the clock in drawable or winning endings. Try the “30-second rule”: never let your clock fall below 30 s during the middlegame; simplify if you do.
- Tactical alertness under pressure. Both recent losses featured missed intermezzos on the e- and b-files. Daily puzzle rush or 10 tactical motifs/day will raise your hit rate.
- Opening depth as Black. You rely on solid …c6/…d5 structures, but the schemes after 4 Qb3 (English) and the 3 b3 Sicilian leave you passive. Adding one dynamic line – e.g. the Tarrasch vs. English or 3…d5 vs. b3 – will diversify your arsenal.
Illustrative critical moment
Black to move after 10 Nb5 in your game versus GM_D85 – an instructive example of the “loose pieces drop off” theme:
Coaching tip: instead of 10…Bxb5? consider 10…a6! forcing the bishop back and keeping your own bishop pair alive.
Opening priorities for the next month
- As White: Prepare a sharper response to early …f6/…e5 setups you often face after 1 d3 or 1 Nf3 – e.g. the quick e4-e5 advance you used with success in the FMgaho2005 game.
- As Black vs. English (1 c4 Nf3): Add the line 1…e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 g3 d5, giving you active central play and reducing queen harassment along the b-file.
- Anti-b3 Sicilian: Memorise the forcing line 3…d5 4 exd5 exd5 5 Bb5+ Nc6 leading to comfortable equality and easier blitz handling.
Training plan
- 15 min/day tactics: Theme rotation – forks, discovered attacks, back-rank motifs.
- 2 rapid games (10|5) per week focusing on time management discipline.
- Endgame drill: 20 rook-and-pawn vs. rook positions on an engine trainer to reinforce your technique when low on time.
Progress tracker
Keep an eye on when (and against whom) your win rate dips – the following charts will update automatically as you play more games:
Good luck with the training, and feel free to reach out after 50-100 games for a fresh review. Your ceiling is clearly higher – a little opening refinement and clock control will push you there!