Coach Chesswick
Summary — recent form & trends
Nice run — the recent games show a high conversion rate, a clear upward rating trend and strong practical results under time pressure. Your strength‑adjusted win rate (~0.63) and consistent +28 rating moves over recent periods show you’re finding reliable plans and finishing chances quickly.
- Win/Loss/Draw: 51 / 21 / 7 — you press advantages and punish mistakes fast.
- Trends: steady improvement across 1–12 months (positive slope, +28 recent change).
- Openings: you score very well in Sicilian lines and several English/Caro‑Kann setups — keep using those strengths.
What you do well (strengths to keep)
- Direct attacking play — you identify and exploit kingside targets quickly (pawn storms, opened files, tactical shots).
- Conversion under pressure — you convert small tactical or structural edges into decisive attacks rather than letting them fizzle.
- Opening variety with practical results — Sicilian and Caro‑Kann lines produce consistent wins; your repertoire is effective and reliable in fast time controls. Consider continuing the work in those lines (Sicilian Defense, Caro-Kann Defense).
- Time management — clocks in your games show you keep reasonable time while maintaining pressure; you avoid getting into extreme time trouble in most wins.
Recurring weaknesses and quick fixes
- Tunnel vision in attack — when you see a forcing idea you sometimes rush and miss defensive resources from the opponent. Quick fix: after every forcing sequence, spend one extra second to ask “what checks or captures does my opponent have?”
- Over‑extension of pawns in the attack — pushing too many pawns can leave holes or lose material if the attack stalls. Fix: prioritize piece coordination before the final pawn storm.
- Occasional premature exchanges — trading when you should keep tension (especially rooks vs rooks on open files). Fix: evaluate whether the exchange reduces or increases your attacking potential before trading.
- Premove / mouse‑premove risk in ultra‑fast games — it wins time but can backfire against tactics. Use premoves sparingly in complex positions and more in quiet endgames.
Concrete drills & training (30–60 minute sessions)
- Tactics burst (15–20 min): 3 sets of 10 rapid tactical puzzles focused on mating patterns, discovered attacks, and sacrifices. Emphasize spotting the opponent’s resources after the tactic.
- Visualization drill (10 min): play a short exercise without moving pieces — scan a typical attacking motif (rook lift, queen on h-file, pawn storm) and name opponent replies out loud.
- Opening reinforcement (15–20 min): pick one critical branch from your main Sicilian and one from Caro‑Kann. Review the typical pawn breaks and the most common tricks. Keep answers short and concrete (3–4 moves deep).
- Blitz practice (20–30 min): simulated time trouble — play 5+0 or 3+0 and force yourself to spend 5 extra seconds on every critical position (checks, captures, threats).
- Endgame check (10 min): short rook + king vs rook drills and basic king+pawn promotion patterns — these low-frequency skills win or save games in time scrambles.
Game‑specific notes (examples from the recent wins)
- Qxh7# finish (game vs Nickinick7): excellent long‑castling and immediate pawn storm — you timed the opening of files well and used the queen decisively. Reminder: after opening lines, double‑check for counterplay before committing the last forcing sacrifice. You can view that game sequence here:
- Win on time (game vs szachuspl): you convert structural advantages and keep the initiative while pressuring the clock. In flagging situations, be mindful of simplifying when ahead in material — exchanges can make the clock advantage more reliable.
- Resignation win (game vs Kretiku): a clean sequence where piece activity and central pressure forced resignation. Continue prioritizing centralization of knights and rooks on open files as you did here.
Practical tips for bullet & blitz
- Build a handful of “auto‑pilot” plans per opening — know the typical pawn breaks and one plan for each side of the board so you move quickly without guessing.
- When you sense a tactic, force the line to limit opponent replies (checks/captures) — less branching = safer calculation under time pressure.
- Use premoves only in safe captures or forced recaptures; avoid premoving in positions with checks or intermezzi.
- If ahead on material, trade into simpler positions and use premoves in the endgame to convert faster.
30‑day action plan
- Week 1: Daily 20‑minute tactics + 10 rapid opening review (pick two critical lines).
- Week 2: Add two 20‑30 min blitz/bullet sessions focusing on disciplined premove usage and extra seconds on every forcing move.
- Week 3: One session per week of endgame drills (rook/endgame basics). Continue tactics daily.
- Week 4: Play 10 rated fast games and review 3 losses in detail—identify one recurring mistake and drill it.
Next steps
- Keep the attacking instincts, tighten up the defensive checks (one extra verification after combinations), and continue targeted opening work on the Sicilian and Caro‑Kann lines where you already score well.
- If you want, send 2–3 loss games or close calls and I’ll give move‑by‑move coaching on the key moments to convert them into wins.