[by Elijah]
I don't know how old I was when he started teaching me to play chess, but I remember he would never let me win. After probably like 5 or 6 years, I started getting frustrated. I didn't want to play anymore because I was never winning.
The next game we played, he let me win and I realized it wasn't as fun and I didn't learn anything. After that, I told him to never let me win again. I was prob 10 or 11 years old.
I didn't actually beat him until I got to high school. Then I started winning every 4 or 5 times. I think the last 3or 4 times we ever played, I won.
Chess Part 2
I learned to play chess shortly after meeting Les. Though we were both the same age—thirty-two—he had been playing for much longer than I. Naturally, he kicked my ass every time we played. A master at psychological warfare, when I was down a couple of pieces, he'd softly whistle, "Taps." After a game, we'd talk not so much about that particular game, but he'd explain somewhat mundane things about the game of chess.
He'd say, "When your opponent makes a move, ask yourself, 'Why did he move that piece? Then look at the possibilities. Is it an offensive move or is your opponent playing defense? Or, you'll know how much you have improved by the length of…