Coach Chesswick
Hi Romeo!
Great job steadily climbing the rating ladder (current personal best: 966 (2021-05-07)). I’ve reviewed your latest wins & losses and built some targeted feedback to accelerate your progress.
What’s working already
- Active piece play. Your e4–Nf3–Bc4 setups create early pressure on f7/f2. In your win vs mmdrz_77 the thrust 20.Nd6! landed a decisive fork.
- Tactical alertness. You spot intermediate moves like 32.Rxa5!! that topple key defenders.
- Clock management. Many victories come from keeping the initiative and forcing opponents into time trouble—a vital skill at 5-minute time-controls.
Biggest improvement opportunities
- King safety before pawn-grabbing.
In your 18 May loss (Italian) 8…Qxe4? won a pawn but left the king in the centre and the queen targetable. Castle first; loose pawns can wait. - Early queen sorties.
Several Vienna Gambit games feature Qh4/Qg4 on move 4-6 that get chased around. Follow the guideline: finish minor-piece development before launching the queen unless there is a forced tactic. - Threat awareness.
Ruy Lopez (18 May): 20…Rxc4 overlooked White’s back-rank ideas. Before every move ask, “What is my opponent threatening right now? After my move, what changes?” - Endgame technique.
In the rook endgame vs hehehehehehector you resigned in an equal material position. Practise king activity, opposition, and basic rook endings to convert more often.
Two-week training plan
| Days | Focus | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 50 tactics/day (forks, pins, back-rank mates) | 30 min |
| 4-5 | Self-review: find the first big mistake in each game | 20 min |
| 6-9 | Play 5 blitz games where the queen cannot move before move 8 | — |
| 10-12 | Study “King & pawn vs king” + “Rook vs pawns” endings | 25 min |
| 13-14 | Opening repair: play Black against the Italian (4…Bc5 line) and annotate | — |
Quick opening checklist
- Develop toward the centre.
- Castle before launching flank attacks.
- After every capture, ask “What changed?”
Visual stats
See when you perform best:
Move of the week
Your tactical sequence vs mmdrz_77:
Next milestone
Apply the above and 700+ rapid should be within reach this month. Keep enjoying the grind, and remember: every game is a chance to learn.