Coach Chesswick
Feedback for Andrew Tang (penguingm1)
Current Snapshot
- Peak blitz rating: 3177 (2025-04-07)
- Activity heat-map:
What You’re Doing Exceptionally Well
- Lightning-fast tactical vision. Your most recent win versus Artin Ashraf featured the …b3 / …bxc2+ resource (28…bxc2+) and the elegant conversion with 56.Qh7#. Even with seconds on the clock you kept finding forcing moves.
- Dynamic piece play in open positions. You frequently generate initiative with early pawn breaks (e.g., 18…c5 in several English/Catalan games) and piece sacrifices that unbalance the game. This leverages your speed advantage and makes opponents uncomfortable.
- Flexible opening repertoire. Alternating between London-style (1.d4 Bf4), English, and various 1.e4 sidelines keeps preparation headaches on your opponents while avoiding long forcing lines.
Areas to Refine
-
King safety against flank storms.
In your loss to Artin Ashraf (C50, game ending 47.Rxg6+), the h-file was pried open after 10.g4.
• Practical fix: When your opponent pushes g- and h-pawns, insert a quick …h6/…h5 only if it prevents g5; otherwise prioritise central counterplay and consider …Kh8/…Re8 to step out of direct checks.
• Study model games on the anti-Giuoco Pianissimo structures where Black switches plans with …d5 or …c6 to blunt the bishops. - Handling of opposite-wing pawn races. Repeated themes in the English games versus g_o_a_t_2010 show you pushing queenside majority while White mates on the kingside. Improve your reaction time to bail-out options such as piece blockades or returning material for counter-checks before it is too late.
- Early middlegame transition in quiet openings. Several resignations stem from slightly worse but defendable positions (e.g., 33…Qxe3 in the Indian Game vs Michael Roiz). Before committing to pawn breaks, ask “What is my worst piece?” and improve it—classic prophylaxis. This slows the game and forces opponents to beat your best moves rather than capitalise on self-inflicted weaknesses.
- Time-management in winning endgames. You flagged in a won knight-ending (C55, move 75). With increment, spend two seconds every 5-6 moves to visualise a technical plan instead of blitzing instant moves. A quick mental checklist—“King activation, pass pawn creation, coordinate pieces”—prevents stalls that burn clock.
Opening Radar
| As White | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Early Bf4/London setups vs …d5/…e6 | Add the trendy 4.e3/5.Nf3 ideas against Queen’s Pawn but keep d4-e4 pawn storm ready. Study games of Firouzja 2023 for templates. |
| 1.Nf3 / g3 English | Prepare a sharper line (e.g., Botvinnik setup with e4) to punish …dxc4 systems that opponents like g_o_a_t_2010 use. |
| As Black vs Italian (Bc4) | Occasionally switch to the 0-0-0 …h6/ g5 plans or the solid Giuoco Piano with …a6 & …Ba7 to avoid early g-pawn storms. |
Concrete Exercise
Revisit this critical moment from your last loss:
Set it up and defend as Black without engine help. Try multiple plans until you find the most resilient line.
Next Steps (Action Plan)
- Play three training games per week starting from move 9…g4 in the Italian to rehearse defensive technique.
- Annotate every game that ends before move 30—ask “Where did the evaluation swing two pawns?”
- Incorporate 10-minute “slow blitz” sessions to balance speed with calculation depth.
Keep pushing the limits, Andrew—your creativity is your super-power. Sharpen the weak edges, and the road to 3200 is wide open!