Coach Chesswick
Hi Zachary Saine!
Great work keeping your blitz rating in the mid-2400s. Your recent games show energetic pawn storms, creative piece play and an appetite for sharp positions. Below is a concise plan to turn those sparks into consistent, fire-proof performances.
Quick dashboard
- Peak Blitz rating:
- When you score best:
- Day-to-day swing:
What you’re already doing well
- Active pawn levers – f4/f5 (as White) and …f6/…e5 (as Black) create space and initiative.
- Piece activity – bishops on long diagonals (Bg2, Bb7) and rooks on open files appear quickly.
- Conversion skill – the win versus leo3691 was a textbook switch from middlegame pressure to a winning endgame setup.
Main growth areas
- King safety when counter-attacked.
In your loss to Bruce Monson (Four Knights, Belgrade Gambit) …Re8 allowed 13.Bxh6! and the dark-squares collapsed.
Critical training: rehearse common attacking sacrifices against the e5/…e5 structure and practise “find the only move” drills that defend against Qh5-Qh6 ideas. - Tactical alertness while under pressure.
Recent defeats featured missed forks, back-rank tactics and undefended pieces. Daily puzzle rush or a 15-minute tactics set will raise your calculation ceiling. - Clock discipline.
Three lost positions were flagged with material equality or advantage. Add a soft timecheck (e.g. 1:15 remaining) to speed up simplification instead of searching for the perfect move.
Opening focus for the next month
- Versus 1.e4 – your Najdorf with 3.g3 is going well. Prepare a second line (e.g. the Najdorf …e6 & …d6 hybrid) to avoid being move-ordered into unfamiliar sidelines.
- Four Knights as Black – add the 5…Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5! antidote to neutralise the Belgrade Gambit before it reaches the h-file sacrifice stage.
- Slav / Triangle Structure – review illustrative games where Black uses …b4 and …a5 in the correct order; poor move orders cost you two games on 8 June.
Illustrative critical moment
The turning point against bamonson happened here:
Only 15…Bf8 (interposing before Re3-g3 lands) keeps the position defendable. Make a habit of asking, “What happens after their next forcing move?” before selecting your own.
Suggested weekly routine
- 3× 20-minute opening study sessions (one for each colour, one for Black vs 1.e4).
- Daily 10-minute tactics or Puzzle Rush sprint.
- Two 15 + 10 games focused solely on clock management and defensive resilience.
- Post-game self-review: mark one missed tactic, one strategic choice and one time-management decision for each game.
Final encouragement
Your attacking instincts are excellent – polishing your defensive reactions and time control will round out your game. Stick with the plan for six weeks, track the stats above, and I expect to see you break the 2500 blitz barrier soon.
Good luck, and enjoy your practice!