NM Joshua Grabinsky

Born and bred in rural Oregon, USA, I'm currently a 19-year-old junior in college. I started at age 5 with my dad and brother Aaron. I took a keen interest, we went to the local chess club, and spent many long nights playing chess in our room. I caught on to resources like chess.com, lichess and different tactical, strategical, opening, middlegame, and endgame books. My rating rose quickly playing tournaments, in state and out of state on a monthly basis. Our devoted chess fanatic, Dr. Keller, made it all possible, driving us to bordering states and flying cross country in search of competition. 14 years later, I'm still probing the depths of this wonderful game (or sport, or science, or art!)

I've played all over the United States, Canada and Mexico, competing in many U.S. Opens and National Opens. Tied for first U12 in North American Youth 2015 (first in blitz); 2nd place for ninth grade in National Grade Champs, FL 2017; tied for first place, ahead of 3 GM's in Larry Evan's Memorial 2019; top U2300 in National Open 2019; 2019 OR Open, 2nd place; OR State Champ 2020. 2020 PRO Chess League participant with the Webster Windmills; 2018 and 2020 OR High School representative for the Denker tournament.

I've taught at the local chess club kids of all ages and levels, teaching them everything from the basics of rules and moves, to concepts regarding positional play, pawn structures, attacks, and exercises.

I will patiently work with students to make the experience enjoyable and relative to them, with constant interaction, analysis of their games, fun exercises, and orderly layout of fundamentals, strategies, opening play, etc.

First I will get a grasp of the student's level, strengths, weaknesses, and playing styles, and general knowledge of the game. I can then plan my lessons to target areas to improve, and build ones that are already strong. This is done with game analysis, tactical exercises, strategical questions, how to think in chess, calculations, planning, middle game structures, numerous endgames, giving you a feel for how the pieces work together and individually, showing classical must-know situations that occur often. I can help provide a solid basis for the different openings with either color, and teach other options besides the long, "trendy" theoretical lines, which are a little dry and overly used in my opinion. That doesn't mean, however, I'm teaching a bunch of offbeat gambits and weird sacrifices, but just something to catch your opponent off guard with and get of the beaten path, fairly early. Of course, middle game plans and follow up ideas accompany this.