Sourabh Joshi

Chess

Chess has been a long-standing part of my life, not merely as a competitive activity, but as a discipline that shapes how I think, plan, and reason under uncertainty.

I am a FIDE-rated chess player and coach. Over the years, chess has taught me the importance of structure, patience, and the ability to evaluate complex positions without complete information—skills that closely mirror the demands of research and engineering.

My approach to chess emphasizes long-term planning over short-term tactics, and understanding over memorization. I am particularly interested in positional play, gradual improvement, and the creation of small, persistent advantages.

As a coach, I focus on helping students develop independent thinking rather than dependence on preparation or opening theory. The goal is not rapid improvement, but durable understanding.

Selected Games

A small selection of games that I find instructive, either for their strategic ideas or for the thinking process behind critical decisions.

• Sourabh Joshi – [Opponent]
  A positional game illustrating long-term pressure and pawn-structure weaknesses.
• Sourabh Joshi – [Opponent]
  An endgame-focused game emphasizing patience and conversion of small advantages.
• Sourabh Joshi – [Opponent]
  A defensive game highlighting resilience and accurate evaluation under pressure.

Chess Writing & Notes

I occasionally write short reflections and notes on chess, often connecting it to broader themes such as learning, uncertainty, and decision-making. These writings are informal and exploratory in nature.

• Positional Pressure and Patience
  Thoughts on maintaining tension and resisting premature action.
• Why Most Plans Fail
  On flexibility, opponent resources, and overcommitment.
• Chess as a Model of Thought
  Reflections on what chess teaches about reasoning under incomplete information.

“Chess is not about the next move alone, but about understanding the position you are slowly becoming.”