Rowley_Junction

Coach’s Review for Rowley_Junction

It’s clear from your games that you enjoy sharp open games and are comfortable navigating tactical complications. Your victory against morningthunder in the Busch–Gass Gambit is a great example of tenacity and resourcefulness.

Current Snapshot

• Peak Daily rating: 1432 (2013-11-09)
• Typical opening choices: 1.e4 e5 as White, symmetrical 1…e5 and occasional Sicilian as Black.
• Tactical awareness: Strong—many wins arise from combinations and mating nets.
• Technical/end-game conversion: Mixed—some lost positions were still salvageable with accurate play.

What You’re Doing Well

1. Active piece play. In several wins you quickly mobilised your pieces, often seizing the initiative (e.g. 14.Nxc7+ in your most recent win).
2. Tactical alertness. You spot intermediate moves and zwischenzugs—see 23…c5 in the English-Opening win, breaking open the c-file at the right moment.
3. Fighting spirit. Even when behind in material you keep posing problems; this spirit is vital for improvement.

Key Areas to Improve

1. Opening discipline.
   • In several losses you entered known traps or conceded central control early (e.g. 5…d5? in the Four Knights loss to inerttachyon).
   • Pick two lines as White and two as Black and learn the first 8-10 moves deeply so you reach middlegames you understand.
   • Study model games and the typical ideas, not just moves—e.g. the importance of the d5-square in the Four Knights, or pawn breaks …d5/…f5 in the Closed Sicilian.
2. King safety & pawn structure.
   • In several defeats g- and h-pawns advanced without a concrete reason, weakening dark squares (see 24…g6 in the Closed Sicilian).
   • Train yourself to ask “What changes if I push this pawn?” before committing.
3. Endgame technique.
   • Games against rdmart and Zufrieden show missed chances to hold difficult endings.
   • Regularly practise basic rook endings and king-and-pawn endings; even 10 minutes a day on a trainer will pay dividends.
4. Conversion with a material edge.
   • You sometimes allow unnecessary counterplay when already winning. Adopt the principle of “trade pieces, keep pawns” when ahead.
5. Time management in correspondence chess.
   • A few games were lost on time; set reminders and use opening databases early, then spend most of the clock in critical middlegame positions.

Illustrative Moment

The following miniature demonstrates both your attacking flair and a recurring structural issue. Try replaying it and asking after every move, “What is the opponent threatening?”

Training Plan (4-Week Sample)

• Week 1 – Openings: Build a White repertoire around the Ruy Lopez or Italian with clear strategic themes. As Black, decide between the Berlin and a solid Sicilian line.
• Week 2 – Tactics: 30-40 puzzles daily focusing on intermediate moves and overloading. Track results with
  .
• Week 3 – Endgames: Study rook endgames: Lucena, Philidor, and basic king-and-pawn concepts (opposition, outflanking).
• Week 4 – Practical play: Review all decisive games from the last month; for each loss write one sentence on the real cause (opening prep, missed tactic, endgame, etc.). Monitor progress with
  .

Glossary Corner

• zwischenzug – an intermediate move, often tactical.
• zugzwang – a position where any move worsens your game.

Final Thoughts

You are already a formidable tactical player. Combine that strength with steadier structures and sharper endgame skills and you’ll break into the 1500-plus range soon. Keep analysing your games, stay curious, and enjoy the journey!