rockabout

Coach’s Feedback for rockabout

1. Quick Snapshot

• Peak rapid rating so far: 1026 (2024-05-18) (keep an eye on this number each week).
• Most common colours: roughly 50-50, but you are scoring slightly better with Black – good sign that you’re comfortable defending.
• Typical session times: see your own trends →
  . Try to schedule serious practice at your “green” hours.

2. What You’re Doing Well

1. End-game conversion: Once you get a clear material edge you usually finish the job (e.g. your Q+R technical win against iambatman92838). Keep polishing these skills.
2. Castling discipline as Black: In almost every Black game you castle by move 6-7. Excellent habit – now let’s bring the same consistency to your White games.
3. Rook activity: Nice awareness of “open files = rook highways.” The exchange sacrifice 14…Rxc3!! in your Philidor win shows good intuition.

3. Biggest Improvement Targets

1. Opening efficiency
   • Too many early pawn stabs (a3, h3/h6, c3) and queen forays (Qf3, Qd5 by move 5). They waste time and invite counter-tactics.
   • Goal for the next month: follow the “four simple opening rules” every game – control the centre, develop knights before bishops, castle, connect rooks. Only then consider pawn/queen adventures.
2. Tactical alertness
   • Recent losses came from missed one-move shots: 21…Qxc3⁺, 9…Nxd4, 6…Ngf6 (“forks & pins”).
   • Daily routine: 15-20 timed puzzles on the “blunder check” setting. Focus on neat forks & double attacks.
   • Use the “Safety Scan” before every move: “What are all checks, captures, threats for both sides?” (tactics).
3. Pawn-structure sense
   • In the French-type loss to fkiram, pushing 8.e5 locked your centre and let Black break on the wings. Learn the basic pawn-chain plans (attack the base, not the head!).
   • Drill the “French & Caro pawn triangles” chapter in your opening notes.

4. Opening Re-boot Plan

5. Highlight Tactic (Study This Pattern)

The exchange sacrifice and back-rank threats from your win over mohamednasser2005 illustrate why rooks belong on open files and bishops on long diagonals. Replay it here, pause before 14…Rxc3 and ask, “Why is this safe?”

6. Weekly Training Menu

• Mon / Wed / Fri – 20 minutes puzzle rush (blitz mode).
• Tue – Annotate one of your own games (win or loss). Write down at least two missed resources for both sides.
• Thu – Play two 10|5 rapid games, apply the opening rules, and do not move the queen until move 8 unless it is a capture or check.
• Weekend – 30 minutes end-game drills (K+P vs K, basic rook mates).

7. Track Your Progress

Use the calendar view to see if practice is paying off →

8. Final Encouragement

You’re already demonstrating solid conversion skills and a fighting spirit. By tightening your opening discipline and sharpening tactical vision you’ll break the 1000-barrier quickly. Stick to the plan above for four weeks and we’ll review the new games together. Good luck, have fun, and remember: pieces first, pawns later!