Coach Chesswick
Recent games — quick links
Here are the three games I reviewed. Click to open the full game and replay moves.
- Win: Review the win vs bastianfigures — opening: Alekhine's Defense.
- Loss: Review the loss vs yannguidez — sharp kingside tactics.
- Draw: Review the drawn game vs ryuujinct — good defensive resourcefulness.
What you did well
Across these blitz games several strong patterns repeat:
- You spot and win material in tactical sequences — the win vs bastianfigures shows clean calculation to win a knight and later capture the rook on the corner. Good eye for forks and loose pieces.
- When ahead you simplify responsibly and avoid unnecessary risks. In the win you exchanged into a position where your extra material decided the game.
- You play actively with pieces. Moves like preparing rook lifts and getting the queen into the attack show you understand piece activity matters in blitz.
- You can defend stubbornly when under pressure, as in the drawn game where you held on and forced a technical result instead of blundering immediately under time pressure.
Key areas to improve
Targeted improvements will yield quick rating gains in blitz.
- Tactical caution before sacrifices. In the loss to yannguidez a forcing-looking capture around the enemy king backfired. Before a capture or sac, ask: what is my opponent’s best reply? Check for counterchecks, captures, and discovered attacks.
- Endgame technique. A couple of defeats turned in the later phase of the game. Practice basic rook endgames and king + pawn endgames so you can convert or defend when the time scrambles.
- Time management in critical moments. Blitz rewards quick, accurate pattern recognition. Avoid spending your remaining time on long, marginal moves; instead use short heuristics (material, king safety, piece activity) to choose moves under 15-30 seconds.
- Watch for tactics when grabbing material. Winning a piece is great but make sure it does not open your king or leave you with a dangerous counterattack. After big captures, pause and check immediate opponent threats.
Concrete drills and practice plan (next 2 weeks)
Small, focused habits for blitz improvement.
- Daily 10–15 minute tactics session: focus on forks, pins, and discovered attacks. Do mixed tactical sets and time yourself.
- 3× per week, 15 minutes of endgame work: Lucena and Philidor, basic king and pawn vs king, and simple rook endgames.
- 1 session reviewing your win vs bastianfigures: replay the game and ask at each capture what the opponent’s best reply is. Use this link to review it move-by-move.
- 1 session reviewing your loss to yannguidez: identify the exact moment you mis-evaluated the tactical sequence and write a one-line rule to prevent it (for example: "If I see a king-side sac, check for counterchecks on my king and undefended pieces"). Use this link to inspect it.
- Play 10 blitz games with a simple opening focus: stick to one safe setup for each color for the week so you reduce opening time spent and get to middlegame practice faster. You have strong results with English-type systems; keep reinforcing typical plans rather than memorizing long lines.
Blitz checklist — quick reminders during the game
- Before any capture: check for immediate opponent replies (capture, check, or a threat that wins material).
- Is my king safe? If not, prioritize defensive moves or simplifying trades.
- If ahead in material: trade pieces (not pawns) and avoid unknown complications.
- If behind in material: activate king and rooks, look for perpetual or tactical resources, and try to complicate if opponent flags easily.
- When low on time: use safe, improving moves (develop, reduce opponent options) instead of flashy complications.
Follow-up
If you want, I can:
- Annotate one of the three games move-by-move and highlight decisive blunders and improvements.
- Give a 2-week personalized study plan with daily tasks based on which area you choose to focus on: tactics, endgames or openings.
- Provide a short list of 20 typical blitz tactical motifs to memorize.
Tell me which option you prefer and I’ll prepare it. Meanwhile, replay your win and loss using the links above and try to write one short rule from each game that you will remember next time.