Coach Chesswick
Hi QueenElnara!
Great work breaking the 2200 barrier (2463 (2018-04-11)) and competing against a wide range of opposition. Below you’ll find specific feedback gathered from your most recent games, plus a practical improvement plan.
1. What you already do well
- Initiative-oriented play. In your French Advance win you seized space early with 5.f4 and kept Black on the back foot with the h-pawn storm (11.h4–17.g4). Your feel for when to attack is strong.
- Tactical alertness. The sequence 27.Nc5! Nf3 28.Nxe6 in the same game shows good calculation skills and awareness of loose pieces. ()
- End-game confidence. Several wins were converted in R+P endings where you kept the pieces active and the clock under control.
2. Recurring trouble spots
- Clock management. Five of your last seven decisive games ended because someone’s flag fell—three of them yours. Even positions you understand can’t be won if you run out of time.
- Loose central squares in the English / Catalan structures. In the loss to PAULO CÉSAR COSTA the Nb4–Nc3 incursion exploited an undeveloped queenside. Similar themes appeared against higher-rated opponents.
- Over-extension on the kingside. Games vs oppvaskkost and strogie featured early h-/g-pawn thrusts that left dark squares around your king weak. Balanced pawn storms require a ready reserve of defenders.
3. Opening tune-ups (quick wins)
| Line | Suggestion |
|---|---|
| French Advance (as White) | Great fit for your style—add 9.0-0 b5 10.Bd3 and study typical …f6 breaks for Black so you’re ready for the counter-punch. |
| Queen’s Indian set-ups (…Bb4+) | The early check cost you two recent Black games. Consider 5…Be7 or 5…Nbd7 to avoid surrendering the bishop pair so easily. |
| Sicilian Rossolimo (3.Bb5) | You scored 0-2 with 4.Bxc6 dxc6. Try 4.0-0 followed by c3 & d4 for a less committal plan that still sidesteps main lines. |
4. Time-management drill
- Play three 5-minute games per day & commit to spending at least 10 seconds on moves 1-10. This prevents the habitual “instant” replies that cost you later.
- Add one 15 | 10 rapid game each week to practise deeper calculation under mild time pressure.
5. Targeted study plan
- Daily 10-minute tactic session (focus on intermediate moves—zwischenzug—and deflection sacrifices).
- End-game refresh: rook vs rook & pawn endings—your wins show promise, but the loss to Nicator65 revealed some imprecision.
- Review and annotate one self-chosen game every weekend. Use the “branches” feature to record “what I considered but rejected.”
6. Progress trackers
Paste these wherever you keep notes to visualise consistency:
7. Motivational snapshot
“When playing the French, leave no pawn behind.” — imitate your own h-pawn heroics, but remember the f-pawn is his best friend!
Keep the energy high and the king a little safer, and I expect to see 2075 (2020-03-12) and 1800 (2019-01-13) climbing soon. Good luck and enjoy the journey!