Upon first glance the city of Monroe is just like any other in the fair state of Michigan.Stationed along one of its major highways is a common Meijers, where on Thursday nights from 8pm on, several adults gather to compete in chess games varying from bughouse to casual play. Their numbers are usually only four or five, but their strengths are amongst the top 100 players in Michigan. This group is a glimpse of what Monroe has to offer.

Sitting a little more than four miles away, Monroe's Middle School, and Trinity Church, find themselves the host to the Monroe Public School's Chess Program, coached and directed by Pete Opfermann. Mr. O, as many of us call him, picked up the program from his teacher, and coach, Richard Sanborn. To date the Monroe program has many national championships, many more state titles, and over 150 students.

Most of you probably already have had a chance to meet some of Monroe's elite, or if you haven't - just look at the cover of this magazine, and the last edition of Michigan Chess. On February 14, 2004, dozens of Monroe students gathered at the Michigan Junior High Team Championships, in order to reclaim the title they staked the previous year. The day was long, and the games were good, but in the end Monroe found themselves fighting against some of the strongest teams across the state.

The team, captained by 2003 Michigan Women's Champion, and 3rd place finisher at the Michigan Juniors, Ashley Carter, and complimented by Collin Smelcer, Thomas Hoffman, and Christian Murphy, found itself well suited for the task. Each member had their unique challenges to overcome across the course of the day, varying from Christian Murphy’s thirty-second time scramble in round three, to Collin Smelcer's ten-minute psychological delay in round five. In the end, however, it came down to the last few seconds, of the last game, of the last round in which Ashley Carter (Board 1) claimed victory over her opponent to give the team their well-deserved championship.

This tournament wouldn't mark the end for the Middle Schoolers as they traveled to the Michigan High School Team Tournament to claim the championship in the Reserve Section. This conquest came in conjunction with the High School Team, formed by John Gattinger, Gerald Paulovich, Max Morefield, and Kalyan Ramakrishnan, finding a victory over their field in the Championship Section as well. These victories at chess gave Monroe three of the state-team titles, and marked them as the most successful school in the state for the 2004 season.

What makes the Monroe Chess Program so fantastic? The answer to that question can be found in three areas, the volunteers, the students, and the families. Monroe has more than six individuals who constantly work (nearly free of benefits) to increase the quality of chess in the area. The students constantly checkout books from their coach, and actually study them! And families - the majority of Monroe's student find themselves a sibling of someone else who came through earlier, or is coming through right behind. These students don't just compete with each other they actually teach their younger teammates to be better players, and individuals, giving Monroe a distinct edge.

The proof of this improvement, in the eyes of this writer, is held within the up and coming talents at Custer Elementary, currently coached by Aaron Mason. 2004 marked the first year of the elementary school's chess program, and it also marked a year of success for the members. On February 7, 2004, the Custer A-Team, Michael Carter (Board 1 & K-3 2004 State Champion), Nicholas Stimes, Miracle Mason, and Ian Mackay, went to take tenth place in the K-5 section. It should be noted that both board 1, and board 2 of this team are second graders at the time of this article! Suffice it to say these four are only a handful of representatives out of Custer's two-dozen students. Keep an eye out of them in the magazines to come as they (this weekend) venture to Pittsburgh for a National Title.

Although next year I may be off in some far away land called to Graduate School, I continue to wish the best for the Monroe schools. The coaches, the parents, and especially the kids put their all into making them, in this author’s eyes, the best group of students Michigan has to offer. Congratulations Monroe, and keep up the stellar work.

Cameron Beatty (1458)
Ashley Carter (1443)
Michigan Junior High Team, Round 5
Monroe, February 2004
Pirc: Two Knights, B08

Notes by Ashley Carter

1.e4 d6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Bc4 0-0 6.0-0 c6

Preparing for 7... b5

7.Bb3 b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.dxe5 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Ng4

I also considered 10...Nfd7

11.Bg5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxe7 Re8 14.Nxb5

White took the pawn too early because his Bishop is hanging

14...Bb7

If 14...cxb5 15.Bd5 but Black is still OK after 15...Rxe7 16.Bxa8

15.Nxa7 Rxa7 16.Bc5 Ra5 17.Bd4 Na6

Here trading Bishops 17...Bxd4 18.Rxd4 would have been better (it stops the 18. Re1 pin)

18.Re1 Nc7 19.Bb6 Raa8 20.Rad1

20.Rxe5 Rxe5 21.Bxc7 and White wins the exchange.

20...Na6

20...Nd5 is a better square for the Knight, and it attacks White's Bishop.

21.Kf1

21.Rd7 is a good move because after 21...Bxh2+ 22.Kxh2 Rxe1 23.Rxf7 Kh8 and White has mate in a few moves after 24.Bd4+

21...Nb4 22.Rd7 Ba6+

Removes White's double threat of Rxb7 and Bxf7+ (forking the Black King and Rook)

23.c4

This blocks the Bishop threat on f7

23...Bxb2 24.a3 Rxe1+ 25.Kxe1 Bxa3 26.c5 Re8+

26...Nd3+ might be a stronger move, because after 27.Kd2 Nxc5 28.Bxc5 Bxc5 29.Bxf7+ Kf8 and Black has a favorable endgame.

27.Kd2

This move loses a pawn for White. 27.Kd1 Re2 28.Bxf7+ is better.

27...Re2+ 28.Kc3 Rxf2 29.Bc7 Rf5 30.Bd6 Nd5+ 31.Bxd5 Rxd5 32.Rd8+ Kg7 33.Bf8+ Kf6 34.Rd6+

This attempts to create a passed pawn .

34...Rxd6 35.cxd6 Ke6 36.d7 Kxd7

Under time pressure I missed 36...Be7 which saves the Bishop and stops 37.d8Q

37.Bxa3 Ke6 38.Kd4 Kf5 39.g3 h5 40.Ke3 Kg4 41.Kf2 f5 42.Bc1 Bd3 43.Ke3 Be4 44.Kf2 Kh3 45.Kg1 c5 46.Bd2 c4 47.Bb4 h4 48.gxh4 Kxh4 49.Be1+ Kh3 50.Bb4 f4

White's Bishop will have to defend both passed pawns.

51.Bd2 f3 52.Be1 g5 53.Bf2 c3 54.Be3 g4 55.Bf2

Better is 55.Bf4 c2 56.Kf2 Bd3 57.Kg1

55...c2 56.Be3 Bd3 57.Bc1 g3

Now it's forced checkmate for Black.

58.hxg3 Kxg3 59.Be3 c1Q+ 60.Bxc1 f2+ 61.Kh1 f1Q# 0-1