Ask Coach

Sure...But possibly at a later time. I am going out to dinner with my family now. Could we schedule a meeting or message another time? I would be free to meet tomorrow, at 3 PM EDT. Please message me all your needs, then I can evaluate them and help you.

Thanks a lot, I will consider it

Thanks very much

How can I stop blundering once and for all, while still being an idiot

Don't be so hard on yourself! There is no fix-all for blunders, even Magnus Carlsen will. However, there is a way to blunder less.

I would recommend puzzles, as all other players. However, there is a specific method behind this. I would solve puzzles using The Woodpecker Method. Begin with a set of puzzles. Solve it over 4 weeks, without hints. Then take a break. Solve it again in 2 weeks. Incrementally, shorten the time to solve significantly. This will help build pattern recognition for your games.

If you would like, I can offer you a personalized puzzle set, as well as affordable chess lessons. PM for more info!

Plateauing around 1400 ELO is really common, and it usually means you've built a solid foundation but need to refine your approach to keep improving.

The key at this stage is to move beyond just solving tactics and start deepening your understanding of strategy. Focus on positional concepts like weak squares, outposts, and good vs. bad bishops, as well as basic pawn structures and endgames. It's also a good time to refine your opening repertoire—not by memorizing long lines, but by learning the ideas behind each move so you know what you're aiming for. Playing longer games (15|10 or 30-minute formats) and reviewing them without instantly turning on the engine can be really eye-opening. Ask yourself what your plan was, what you missed, and why certain trades or moves worked or didn’t. This level of self-review builds true improvement.

If you’ve hit a wall, consider working with a coach or following a structured training plan. That kind of personalized guidance can reveal blind spots and accelerate your progress. I work with beginner and intermediate players and help them push through rating plateaus with custom plans, game analysis, and coaching—feel free to message me if you’re interested in taking your chess to the next level.

im 1548 otb do you want to play a match?

Maybe another time. But I appreciate the offer!

okay

You're on a solid track with your opening choices — using the Reti with a fianchetto setup (possibly transitioning into a King's Indian Attack) as White, and the KID/Pirc combo as Black gives you flexible, system-based positions with rich middlegame possibilities.

To push past 1500 ELO, the key is to go beyond playing moves by habit and start mastering the strategic ideas behind your setups. Ask yourself what your plans are in each opening. For example, in the KIA, when do you go for the central break with e4, and what are the typical kingside attacking plans? In the KID or Pirc, understanding when to play ...e5 versus ...c5, and how to time ...f5 or ...g5 in kingside pushes, will give your positions more punch. You should also start expanding your strategic toolkit overall — study classic middlegame concepts like outposts, bad bishops, open files, and pawn breaks. This level is where being good at tactics isn’t enough — you need to learn how to build positions. Practicing visualization and calculation is also important: solve puzzles that require a few moves of foresight, not just 1-move blunders. Don’t neglect the endgame either — mastering simple king and pawn endings, rook activity, and Lucena/Philidor positions will win you endgames that most opponents misplay. Make sure you're reviewing your games critically — annotate them yourself before checking with an engine, and look for the moment things turned. That self-reflection creates real progress.

If you’re serious about accelerating your improvement, I also work with intermediate players to help them break through rating plateaus using tailored coaching and study plans. Feel free to message me if you're interested in guidance specific to your repertoire and goals.

i have a question for you. should I play the nydorf scillan or another scillan

you should loook for tactics to get to 1300, also refine your openings, I like ruy lopez

#35, i have the endgames. I love endgames, and i studied them a LOT. Also, when do i go fot the e4 central break? Usually, after i developed all of my pieces. But with the KID/Pirc, i really need to understand when to play e5 vs. when to play c5 and how to time f5/g5. Could you help me? Also, the self analysis is a good idea, but i don't know if i have time or patience to do it….

hi