Coach Chesswick
Hi Augustin,
You have an energetic, initiative–driven style that scores spectacular wins, yet a few recurring patterns are holding you back from the next level. Below is a personalised report based on your latest blitz session.
At-a-glance
- Peak Blitz Rating: 2758 (2024-07-09)
- Typical session rhythm:
- Day-to-day consistency:
Your key strengths
- Tactical alertness. The mating nets against Artem Legenya (…Qxg3#) and Anton Demchenko (…Rf7#) show sharp calculation and good piece co-ordination.
- Practical endgame grit. In the long win versus Vasif Durarbayli you nursed a slim material edge for 90+ moves without tilting, eventually flagging a 2850 opponent—evidence of fighting spirit and decent technical endurance.
- Opening versatility. As Black you handle both 1…e5 and the Sicilian. As White you switch smoothly between Anti-Sicilians, Scotch, and Ruy setups, keeping opponents out of book.
Growth areas
- Critical-moment calculation. Several losses stem from a single impatient decision in a balanced position. Example: against Jaime Santos Latasa you played 19.Qg3 followed by 20…Nxe4! and the counter-attack was unstoppable.
- King safety when launching pawn storms. In the loss to Khaz_Modan you advanced g- and h-pawns without securing c3/e4 squares, inviting a counter-sacrifice that shattered your centre.
- Conversion speed. Against Durarbayli you reached a technically winning R+minor vs B+2P endgame by move 45 but needed 80 more moves. Work on basic winning techniques (outside passed pawn, opposition, cutting the king) so you can finish games before the clock becomes an extra opponent.
Opening homework (next two weeks)
- White vs Sicilian: Your 3.Bb5 Canal attack is solid but your middlegame plan looked vague. Study Aronian–Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2012 for model piece placement and the thematic zwischenzug on the e-file.
- Black vs 1.e4 – Italian: The …d6/ …a6/ …Ba7 setup is fine, but you mixed systems (…h6 and …Ne7–g6) and drifted. Pick ONE plan—either classical …Be6/…d5 break or Najdorf-style …g5 expansion—and learn typical manoeuvres.
Training plan
- Daily 10-minute calculation drill: three puzzles rated +200 over your blitz rating; write down full lines until a clear win/eval.
- Endgame sprint: 15 minutes of rook-and-pawn technique on an engine-free board—focus on Lucena, Philidor, and “bridge” motifs.
- Twice per week, annotate one of your own losses without an engine for 20 minutes, then compare to engine for another 10. Track the first move where your eval drops by ≥1.5; that is your “critical-moment” index.
Mind-set tips
- When all your pieces are active, pause for one tempo of prophylaxis before launching the final blow—often a single luft or consolidating move saves the game.
- Use the opponent’s time to map candidate moves for the next two plies, not one. This will reduce “I missed his resource” moments.
Keep the ambition high, but anchor every attacking idea in concrete calculation and king safety. You’re very close to the next rating band—tightening up just a handful of positions each session will get you there.
Good luck, and see you at the board!
Coach