diff --git a/skillopt/model/__init__.py b/skillopt/model/__init__.py
index a09e6e0c..c38f3180 100644
--- a/skillopt/model/__init__.py
+++ b/skillopt/model/__init__.py
@@ -105,6 +105,16 @@ def chat_optimizer(
             reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
             timeout=timeout,
         )
+    if get_optimizer_backend() == "minimax_chat":
+        return _minimax.chat_optimizer(
+            system=system,
+            user=user,
+            max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
+            retries=retries,
+            stage=stage,
+            reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
     return _openai.chat_optimizer(
         system=system,
         user=user,
@@ -204,6 +214,18 @@ def chat_optimizer_messages(
             return_message=return_message,
             timeout=timeout,
         )
+    if get_optimizer_backend() == "minimax_chat":
+        return _minimax.chat_target_messages(
+            messages=messages,
+            max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
+            retries=retries,
+            stage=stage,
+            reasoning_effort=reasoning_effort,
+            tools=tools,
+            tool_choice=tool_choice,
+            return_message=return_message,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
     return _openai.chat_optimizer_messages(
         messages=messages,
         max_completion_tokens=max_completion_tokens,
diff --git a/skillopt/model/minimax_backend.py b/skillopt/model/minimax_backend.py
index 8c6add9c..7d9a42cb 100644
--- a/skillopt/model/minimax_backend.py
+++ b/skillopt/model/minimax_backend.py
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def chat_target(
     stage: str = "target",
     reasoning_effort: str | None = None,
     timeout: float | None = None,
-) -> tuple[str, dict[str, int]]:
+) -> tuple[str, dict[int]]:
     del reasoning_effort
     messages = [{"role": "system", "content": system}, {"role": "user", "content": user}]
     return _chat_messages_impl(
@@ -234,6 +234,32 @@ def chat_target(
     )
 
 
+def chat_optimizer(
+    system: str,
+    user: str,
+    max_completion_tokens: int = 16384,
+    retries: int = 5,
+    stage: str = "optimizer",
+    reasoning_effort: str | None = None,
+    timeout: float | None = None,
+) -> tuple[str, dict[int]]:
+    """Optimizer chat call. Backend stores the trained skill; uses the same
+    MiniMax-proxied OpenAI-compat endpoint as `chat_target`. Added in the
+    parallel-training fix; previously missing in skillopt 0.2.0's
+    miniamax backend, which forced the dispatcher into _openai.chat_optimizer
+    (Azure) and produced "[skip] no usable patches" for any user running
+    optimizer+target on `minimax_chat`.
+    """
+    messages = [{"role": "system", "content": system}, {"role": "user", "content": user}]
+    return _chat_messages_impl(
+        messages,
+        max_completion_tokens,
+        retries,
+        stage,
+        timeout=timeout,
+    )
+
+
 def chat_target_messages(
     messages: list[dict[str, Any]],
     max_completion_tokens: int = 16384,