Coach Chesswick
Hi Ana, here is some constructive feedback based on your recent games.
1. What you already do well
- Consistent opening repertoire. Whether you start with 1.d4 or 1.c4 you often reach set-ups with g3 & Bg2. Your familiarity shows: you score well whenever the position stays within your strategic wheelhouse. Your wins against ayushblundersagain and juantonamera are good examples.
- Piece activity & coordination. In winning games your minor pieces usually occupy active posts (e.g. the Bf4/Nd5 duo in the first PGN). When your pieces work, you convert advantages smoothly.
- Patience in technical endgames. The 76-move conversion with the passed h-pawn shows solid end-game technique under clock pressure.
- Peak strength. 2438 (2019-10-12) illustrates that your ceiling is already high. Keep that confidence.
2. Main improvement themes
- Time management.
Your losses often arrive after you fall below 20 s with many pieces on the board (e.g. versus ace_pik3 and allanbeardsworth). Try the following:- Adopt a “40-20-20” rule: aim to have ≥40 s after the opening, ≥20 s entering any tactical complications, ≥20 s for the final conversion.
- Play a batch of 3 | 2 sessions so you keep the same total time but learn to “delegate” simple moves to the increment.
- Handling counter-play against your king.
In several defeats the opponent’s rook(s) invaded the second rank while your king was stuck on g2–h2. Train yourself to ask the prophylactic question “What is my opponent’s next threat?” each move. A short example from the loss to Allan:
Here 34.Rb3 or 34.Kg1 would have limited Black’s rook activity. - Tactical alertness in dynamic positions.
Many of your openings give you a pleasant space advantage but also leave loose pawns (a4, c5, h-pawns). Opponents have used tactics such as …Qb4+ or …Nxd4 to equalise. Daily drills on motifs like the zwischenzug and double-attacks will pay immediate dividends. - Diversify your opening move-order.
Your first moves are predictable. Add at least one non-fianchetto line (e.g. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 – the Nimzo – as White, or 1.c4 e5 lines as Black). You will:- Become harder to prepare for,
- Practise structures that demand different plans,
- Improve calculating ability in sharper positions.
3. Suggested training menu
- Daily 15-minute tactics session focused on “Rook & queen double attacks”.
- Replay one loss each day; stop at every irreversible decision and write down at least one alternative move.
- End-game sparring: 5-minute games starting from rook-and-pawn endgames; this will reinforce technique and clock handling.
4. Progress tracking
Monitor yourself with the built-in stats:Hourly performance:
| Win-rate by day: If you keep time-trouble under control those charts should flatten out and your peak-rating marker will shift upward. 👍