For the second straight year, Aaron Kahn and Ashley Carter were our Denker and Polgar representatives, respectively. For 2005, the tournaments were held in Phoenix, AZ.

In the Denker, Aaron finished in a tenth place tie with three and a half points. Unfortunately, we did not receive any of Aaron’s games from the event. The tournament was won by a three-way tie between Josh Bakker (MA), Zhi-Ya Hu (MD), and Trevor Jackson (LA) all with five points.

In the Polgar, Ashley scored three points to tie for twentieth place out of fourty-eight participants. One of her losses was to WGM Anya Corke (CA), who also finished in a three-way tie for first place. Two other players finished with five points in the tie, Alisa Melekhina (PA) and Abby Marshall (OH). Here is Ashley’s game against WGM Corke:

Ashley Carter (1682)
Anya Corke (2323)
Polgar Invitational, Round 2
Phoenix, AZ, August 2005
Grünfeld: Three Knights (Schlechter Deferred), D94

Notes by Ashley Carter

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7

I wasn't very familiar with this opening for Black, but I knew some main ideas for White, like playing e4 later on.

6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Re1

Preparing for e4.

8...a6 9.a3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 b5 11.Ba2

I wanted to keep the diagonal, and Bb3 blocks the b-pawn.

11...c5 12.e4

Trying to control the center.

12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.e5

This gives White a space advantage and a strong center.

14...Ne8 15.Nc6 Qc7

15...Qxd1 also loses the e-pawn because of 16.Nxe7+ Kh8 17.Rxd1.

White to Move

16.Nd5

Qb7 is Black's only move because 16...Qxc6? 17.Nxe7+.

16...Qb7 17.Ncxe7+ Kh8 18.Nxc8

I wanted to trade my knight for the bishop because it could be a potential threat with Bf5 or Bb7 later on in the game

18...Rxc8 19.b4 Na4 20.f4

Instead of f4, maybe White could have brought the queen out to g4 or f3 or develop bishop at g5.

20...Nd6

A fast way for black to get her knight active with the e-pawn pinned to the rook on a1.

21.Bd2 Nc4 22.Ne3 Qb6 23.Kh1

To break the pin on e3.

23...Nab2 24.Nxc4 bxc4 25.Be3 Qb7 26.Qc2 Nd3 27.Re2 Qd5 28.Rd1

Putting pressure on the d-file pin and also the pin on c4.

28...Rfd8 29.Bc5?

29.Red2 or 29.Rdd2 was a lot better for White here.

Black to Move

29...Nf2+! 30.Kg1

30.Bxf2 Qxd1+ 31.Qxd1 (or 31.Bg1) 31...Rxd1+ 32.Bg1 may be better for White. Not 30.Rxf2? Qxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 32.Rf1 Rxf1+ 33.Bg1 and White is lost.

30...Nxd1 31.Bxc4

Keeps the queens on the board, but 31.Qxc4 Qxc4 32.Bxc4 and the bishop pair keeps slim draw chances alive.

31...Rxc5 32.bxc5

32.Bxd5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Ne3 34.Rc6 is a little better, but still losing for White.

32...Qxc5+ 33.Kh1 Ne3 34.Qc3 Rd1+ 35.Re1 Rxe1+ 0-1