Coach Chesswick
Hi Enamul, here’s an evidence-based review of your recent blitz games.
1. What you’re already doing well
- Consistent opening choices – you score well with Catalan / QGD structures and the g3-Grünfeld lines. The set-ups are familiar enough that you reach middlegames with a time edge and harmonious pieces.
- Pragmatic tactical vision – in your win against Blazej Grot you calmly exploited …Rc8? 38.Rxb7!, converting an outside a-pawn despite mutual zeitnot.
- Endgame technique – the Re3# finish against Henrik Cernov showed good calculation and awareness of mating nets.
- Psychology & resilience – after a loss you often bounce back with a win the very next round; that’s a healthy tournament mindset.
2. Repeating pain points
- Loose king in the French as Black – three losses featured …Qb6/Qb8 + early queen raids, but your king stayed in the centre or on e8. When White opens lines (e.g. 23.Ne2 Nf4 → 25.Re3 g5?!) you lack defensive resources.
- Poor conversion vs passed d-pawns – in the Neo-Grünfeld loss to Alex King, 18…Bxf1 allowed d6–d7 and the passed pawn paralysed your pieces.
- Time management – average remaining time when the critical mistake happens is <15 s. Even a five-second buffer would avoid several one-move collapses.
- Calculation depth when ahead – in several winning positions you exchanged into endgames where the technical win was harder than necessary. Look for cleaner knockout continuations (see actionable drills below).
3. Action plan
- Repair the French defence
• Add the solid 6…Be7 and early …c5xd4 ideas to avoid the sharp Winawer-exchange lines.
• Practice king-in-the-centre themes: set up positions with a locked e-pawn chain and drill defensive moves on a board.
• Review 15 games by MVL on the French to copy his king-side pawn structure. - Passed-pawn containment
• Daily puzzle rush: choose themes “Blockade” and “Stopper”.
• Annotate your AlexanderKing loss focusing only on the moves that controlled d7. Ask “Could I have forced d7 to be weaker?” - Clock discipline drill
• Play 10 games of 3 + 2 each day but force yourself to move before 1:00 on the clock for the first 15 moves.
• Review with engine only the moves played under 5 s – look for pattern errors. - Improve calculation conversion
• 15-minute “woodpecker” sessions: pick a winning line and calculate until mate or obvious win, then check.
• Whenever you are +4 (engine) in analysis, search for a direct attacking line before trading.
4. Quick reference dashboard
- Peak Blitz rating: 2646 (2023-03-16)
- When you win most games:
- Best playing days:
Keep enjoying your chess, keep the initiative-oriented style, and tighten up the defensive details – that combination will push you toward the next rating milestone soon!