#ChesswithCoachLarry
If you read this column regularly, you know I usually profile local chess students and their efforts to improve their games. Today I’d like to tell you about an older local chess player, one who has been a great friend to me and also to the area chess students. My friend Ed Addis was a leading member of the chess community as a player, coach and tournament director for almost 60 years. When he died recently, we lost one of our main event organizers and directors, which is a loss to chess players of all ages.
I first met Ed in the 1960s when we played in the high school chess league. He was the top player for David Douglas High School and I was the top player at Madison High School. We played against each other many times over the years. At every tournament I would seek out Ed. His friendly way made the games that much more enjoyable. Between rounds Ed, I and some of the old guard, who were reaching middle age, would gather and talk about past tournaments and show our chess games.
After retiring Ed started volunteering and helped restart the high school chess league becoming the tournament director. He helped schools start chess clubs and became the coach for Clackamas High School for a number of years. Ed was one of the top tournament directors for the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation, directing 10-12 tournaments a year.
During the summer he would hold small tournaments at libraries or in the parks to keep the kids interested in chess over the summer. He would give out chess books from his own library and get prizes donated. His tournaments were run perfectly, and he was always ready to help other directors at their tournaments. No problem was too big or too small, he just liked helping out.
Ed was also happy to sit and review a player’s game to help that player understand where they may have gone wrong. Every player felt better after going over their game with Ed. They felt that they didn’t lose but that they got a lesson and would play better in the next round.
Now when I go to a chess tournament, Ed won’t be there. When a group of kids are reviewing their games with an adult Ed won’t be there. I’ll think about the contributions he usually makes and hope there are new ambassadors to take up the slack. But they just won’t be like Ed.
Game of the Month: Sicilian Defense
- White: Ken Hunsucker
- Black: Edward Addis
1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6
3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 g6
6.Be2 (The Attack popularized by Velimirovic and Fischer of castling long and playing h2-h4-h5 has attracted most players by its brutal efficiency, but there is something to be said about the older Be2 and 00 line.)
6…Nc6
7.Qd2?! Bg7
8.Nxc6 (As Black threatened …Nxe4, this is probably White’s best attempt to strengthen his position.)
8…bxc6
9.0–0 0–0
10.Rd1 (Black should pay close attention to the center and play 10…Be6 when
- Qf4! repositions the Queen in an aggressive manner when White has a fair game.) 10…a5 11.e5 Ne8
12.exd6 exd6
13.Ne4 (Now the positioning of his Queen on d2 begins to tell against White. After
- Qf4 White still has a good game.) 13…Bf5
14.Nxd6 Nxd6
15.Qxd6 Bxc2
16.Rd2 (White replaces the blockading Queen with a blockading Rook, and the problem of developing his queenside grows with each move. Black now stands better.)
16…Be4 (Simpler was 16. …Qxd6.)
17.Qc5 Qb8
18.f3 Bd5 (Bishops are better organized than White’s. From now on Addis’ superior endgame play takes over to score the point. White should now try to get rid of one of Black’s Bishops with 19. Bc4.)
19.Rc2 Re8
20.Qf2 Qa7! (Effectively preparing to double Rooks and removing White’s most active piece.)
21.Qxa7 Rxa7
22.Kf1 Rae7
23.Bf4 (Allowing the win of the b-Pawn, but White really had nothing better.) 23…Rxe2!
24.Rxe2 Bc4
25.Rae1 Bxb2
26.Bd2 a4
27.Kf2 Rxe2+
28.Rxe2 Bxe2
29.Kxe2 Be5 (The extra Pawn on c6 gives Edward all the winning chances. The next step is to activate his King. The rest of the game proceeds almost like an endgame study.)
30.h3 Kg7
31.Kd3 Kf6
32.Kc4 Bd6
33.Bb4 (Otherwise White cannot stop Black from improving the position of his King.)
33…Ke6
34.Bxd6 Kxd6
35.Kb4 Kd5
36.Kxa4 Kc4 (Squeezing the White King.)
37.Ka5 c5
38.a4 Kd4!
39.Kb6 c4
40.a5 c3
41.a6 c2
42.a7 c1Q
43.a8Q Qc5+ The Queens are exchanged and then Black’s King invades the kingside many tempi ahead of the White King. 0–1
Why learn chess? Simple: It’s a great mental workout that helps children perform well in the classroom. Chess is a logical game where kids have to plan ahead and adjust to new situations. But most of all, it’s fun! Larry Ball (Coach Larry) teaches students of all ages at the Steinitz Chess Academy in Beaverton. For more information, email Larry at larryball48@yahoo.com.