Coach Chesswick
Game snapshot
Nice win vs anp21 — you steered a Reti-style setup into a game with two connected passed pawns and active rooks. Below is a replay of the decisive phase to review the key moments:
Opening: Reti Opening
[[Pgn|c7|Rc8|Bxa7|Nd7|b5|Nc5|Bxc5|dxc5|Qxc5|Qg5|b6|Qe3+|Qxe3|Bxe3+|Kh1|Bxb6|Rfc1|Rxc7|Rxc7|Bxc7|a4|Ba5|Rb1|Kg7|Rb5|Bd2|a5|Be3|a6|f5|Rb7+|Kh6|a7|Bxa7|Rxa7|fxe4|fxe4|Kg5|Re7|Kf4|Rxh7|Kxe4|Rg7|orientation|white|autoplay|false]What you did well
- Created and pushed connected passed pawns. You converted a pawn majority into real promotion threats — that pressure forced exchanges and improved your piece coordination.
- Active rook play. You used rooks on open files and the seventh rank effectively (Rfc1 → Rxc7 → Rxh7 ideas), which is exactly what wins these endgames.
- Simplification into a winning endgame. You traded down into a material/positional advantage and then methodically improved your pawns and rooks instead of trying flashy tactics.
- King safety and timing. You kept your king relatively safe while advancing pawns — good sense of when to push and when to keep pieces for defense.
Where to improve (concrete, short-term)
- Watch for opponent queen activity early-midgame. Black got repeated queen checks and started to create counterplay (Qf4→Qh4→Qg5). Try a tempo or prophylactic pawn move to limit queen incursions when you build on the kingside.
- Avoid passive re-routing of bishops when you have an extra pawn or a passed pawn. Moves like pulling the bishop back then forward cost time; aim to place minor pieces on active diagonals early so they help push the pawn chain.
- Mind move ordering on pawn breaks. When you push in the center/queenside, check whether exchanges help or remove your most advanced pawn. In a few places exchanges let Black simplify into positions where his queen could harass; prefer exchanges that keep your passers alive or force decisive material gains.
- Keep an eye on the clock in critical moments. In blitz it's easy to play quickly and miss a defensive resource. A single extra second spent checking opponent threats often prevents giving them one last counter-chance.
Suggested drills and study plan (week-by-week)
- Daily tactics: 15–20 short puzzles focused on mating nets and double attacks (15 minutes). These reinforce spotting tactical wins like forks and pins that win material before an endgame.
- Endgame practice: 3–4 rook & pawn vs rook positions and passed pawn conversion drills (20 minutes, using short training positions). Learn basic technique for pushing connected passed pawns and using the seventh rank.
- Opening sharpening: 1 session on your Reti/anti-Sicilian ideas (30 minutes). Focus on typical pawn breaks and one extra move-order trap to stop opponent queen activity early.
- One annotated blitz session per day: play 5 blitz games and annotate 1 game (10–15 minutes). Note one moment where you could have prevented opponent counterplay — write the better move and why.
Practical tips for your next blitz session
- When you have a passed pawn, prioritize piece activity that supports promotion over chasing small gains elsewhere.
- If the opponent’s queen becomes pesky, consider a small prophylactic pawn push or a minor piece trade that reduces checks — trade queen for a rook only if the resulting endgame is clearly winning.
- Use the opening to build a pawn majority on the flank you intend to push; consistent central control (d4/e4 style like in this game) helps create those majorities.
- Before making quick captures in the middlegame, ask: “Does this create a passer or allow enemy counterplay?” If it creates the passer — take it; if it opens lines for enemy queen/rooks — pause and re-evaluate.
One quick homework position
Set up a position with two connected passed pawns and a rook vs rook behind them. Practice converting with the king centralized and the rooks cutting off the enemy king. Run 5 repeats from different starting squares until you win consistently.