Coach Chesswick
Hi XLXLZH – here’s some feedback from your latest rapid sessions
What you’re already doing well
- Initiative-first mindset – games like your win over goldpenguin12 show how comfortably you keep pieces active and pile up pressure after breaks such as f5/f4.
- Conversion when ahead – versus vlinge22 you traded into a rook-and-passer ending, kept the rook behind the pawn and didn’t let counter-play appear.
- Clock management – even in the sharp Scotch Gambit against malay_singh you reached move 25 with ~50 % of your time, forcing the flag without rushing decisions.
Recurring problems
- King safety vs pawn storms
You often answer …g5/…h5 setups with automatic pushes (g3, h4, f4) instead of asking “what is the threat?”.
Example: – after 26.Bxh5? the dark squares collapsed. - Light-square weaknesses from early f-pawn moves
In the losses to Dodji_Tati02 and Pranay1255 …Qf4+, …Nf3+ motifs repeatedly landed because the f- and h-pawns had vacated your king’s shield. - Side-line experimentation
Openings such as 3.Na3 in the English or ultra-early queen sorties give you interesting games but also free targets. Your score with main-line structures (Scotch, London/QGD, Classical Sicilian) is ≈75 %; with off-beat lines it drops below 50 %. - Rook-ending technique
A +5 endgame versus Pranay1255 slipped after 31…Bxf4 and 40…Kf7. Remember: rooks belong behind passed pawns and the “umbrella” method is your friend against side checks.
4-week improvement plan
| Theme | How to train | Target metric |
|---|---|---|
| Prophylaxis | Pause 5 critical positions each day and list opponent threats; tag them with prophylaxis in your notes. | Hold ≥ 70 % vs …g5/…h5 structures |
| King-attack calculation | Puzzle filter “mate in 3-4”, 20 per day. | > 80 % accuracy |
| Rook endings | Lucena & Philidor drill set twice weekly. | Convert in ≤ 60 s each |
| Opening hygiene | Fix two main repertoires (1.d4 + QGD/London; Black: Classical Sicilian & …e5 vs 1.e4). Add one new sub-line weekly. | First 15 moves played in < 3 min with eval swing < 0.40 |
Track your progress
Current rapid peak:
- Hourly form: – beware late-night tilt.
- Day-of-week results: – schedule study days on low-score days.
“S.T.O.P.” blunder-check
- Scan every check, capture, zwischenzug.
- Threats – what does my opponent want?
- Own plan – does my move fit my strategy?
- Pawns & king – have I left a hole?