How Much Is 125 Euros Worth?

BACK in October-November I played in the U2000 section of the Benidorm Open at Hotel Meliá, winning 125 euros.

Prizes were to be paid by bank transfer, but problems with the Iban system meant I only received mine today.

I am accordingly £85.75 richer - Spain's "withholding tax" has made for what would otherwise appear to be a very unfavourable exchange rate (there were no bank charges).

Summing Up Benidorm

MY score in the Meliá U2000 of +5=2-1 (I also took a halfpoint bye) gained 5.6 Fide elo and 125 euros.

Benidorm Round Nine

Spanton (1941) - Javier González Górriz (1826)

Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

1.Nc3 c5 2.e4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Nxc6!? bxc6 7.Bc4 Nh6!?

The main line in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database runs 7...d6 8.0-0 Nf6 9.e5!? dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Re1, with equal chances, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1.

There are just six examples of 7...Nh6!? in Mega 25

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8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5

This seems to be a novelty. Hugh Alexander - Leonard Barden, British Championship (Blackpool) 1956, which reached the position by transposition, went 9.Be3 d6 10.h3!? Be6 11.Bb3 Bxb3 12.axb3 f5!? 13.Qd2 Nf7 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Ra6, with the upper hand for White, according to the engines (1-0, 27 moves).

9...d6 10.h3!? Be6 11.Bb3 Bxb3 12.axb3 Kh8?!

The engines prefer 12...f5!?, a la Barden.

How should White proceed?

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13.Bxh6

The start of a combination that wins a pawn, but the engines much prefer 13.Ra6!? Qd7 and either 14.Qd3 or 14.Be3.

13...Bxh6 14.Rxa7

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 fluctuates, at least for a while, between the text and 14.Ra6!?

14...Rxa7 15.Qd4+ Bg7 16.Qxa7

How big is White's advantage?

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White's extra pawn is doubled, and part of an island under pressure on the long dark diagonal. But White has the open file, and White's advantage is worth about a half-pawn, according to Dragon1 (Stockfish17.1 is less enthusiastic).

16...Bf6 17.Ra1 Qb8!?

The engines dislike this, even though after ...

18.Qxb8 Rxb8

.... we have gone from a middlegame, in which queen and knight often work well together, to an ending, in which Black has the better minor piece for cooperating with a rook. I guess the point is it will be easier for White to activate the queenside in an ending where the king can help.

19.Ra6 Rc8?!

This seems unnecessarily passive when 19...c5 is available.

20.Kf1 Kg7 21.Ra5!? e6 22.Ke2 d5 23.exd5 cxd5 24.Kd3 Kf8 25.Ra7 Rb8 26.Nd1 Ke8 27.Ra3 Kd8

The engines give 27...Be7 28.Ra5 h5 29.f3, awarding White the upper hand.

28.c3 d4?!

Putting a pawn on the same colour complex as the bishop is unlikely to help, unless there is a particular tactical or positional point, and here there is the added factor that White is now likely to get connected passed pawns.

29.f3

Probably not 29.cxd4?! Be7 30.Ra4 Rxb3+, although the engines reckon White is still well on top.

29...Rb7 30.Nf2 Rd7 31.c4 Rb7 32.Kc2 Kd7 33.Nd3 Kc6 34.Ra6+ Rb6!?

The engines agree this is best, but have White winning easily.

35.Ra7 Rb7 36.Rxb7 Kxb7

Black is 'only' a pawn down, and has the better minor for play with rival pawn-majorities, but d4 is a weakness, the bishop has no targets on the kingside, and White's queenside phalanx is strong

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37.b4 Be7 38.Kb3 Bd6 39.c5 Bg3 40.Kc4 e5 41.Nc1 Bf4 42.Ne2 g5 43.b5 h5 44.g4 hxg4 45.hxg4 Kc7 46.b4 f6 47.b6+ Kc6!? 48.b5+ Kb7 49.Kd3 Bh2 50.Nc1 Bg3 51.Nb3 Be1 52.Kc4 Bc3 53.Nc1 Bd2 54.Nd3 Be3 55.Nb4 Bf2 56.Nd5 Bg1 57.c6+ Kc8 58.Kd3 1-0

Benidorm Round Eight

Conchita Jover Fuentes (1849) - Spanton (1941)

Queen's Pawn Game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5!?

This has been played by Magnus Carlsen at blitz, and the move scores a respectable 55% in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

There are 1,903 examples of the position in Mega25 - how should Black respond?

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3...Be7

The move 3.Bg5!? goes back to at least 1892, when Emanuel Lasker played it in what appear to have been simuls. His first opponent replied 3...f6, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 prefer the text and 3...Nf6.

4.Bxe7 Qxe7 5.c3

This is the commonest continuation, but the engines suggest 5.Nbd2 or 5.c4!? If, after 5.c4!?, Black replies 5...Qb4+, the engines reckon White gets a slight edge with 6.Qd2, whatever Black tries.

5...Nf6 6.Nbd2 0-0 7.e3 Nc6

Seeking a quick ...e5, but 7...Nbd7 was a more sure way of achieving this.

8.Bd3

White can stop ...e5 with 8.Bb5!?

8...e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Nf3 Qh5 12.Qc2 Re8

The engines give an apparent-novelty in 12...Bh3!?, more-or-less forcing 13.Bf1, claiming a slight edge for Black.

13.0-0-0!?

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the game?

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Black has the only pawn on the fourth rank, and an uncompromised king's position, but White's pieces are well-coordinated, and the black queen could become a target for White's kingside pawns. The engines give Back a slight edge.

13...Bg4

This may be new. Known is 13...c5, while the engines reckon ...Bh3!? is still good.

14.Be2 Bf5 15.Bd3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 c6 17.h3 Ne4 18.Qc2 Qg6!?

The engines agree this is best. It anticipates the move g4, and gives the option of ...Qf6 to pressurise the white knight and the f2 pawn.

19.Rhg1 Qf6 20.Rdf1 b5 21.Nd2 Rad8 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Rd1 Qg6

Better is 23...Rd3!, when White cannot win a pawn as 24.Rxd3?! exd3 25.Qxd3? is met by 25...Qxf2.

24.Qe2?!

White should probably have played 24.Rd4, or 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 and either 25.Rd1!? or 25.a4.

24...Rd3 25.g4?

The engines come to regard 25.Qg4!? as best, but give Black at least a slight edge after 25...Qd6 or 25...Qf6.

25...Red8 26.Rgf1?!

And here they prefer 26.f3.

26...Qe6 27.Kb1 g6

The engines reckon this is unnecessary, but averting a possible back-rank mate seemed a sensible precaution to me as White can do little active.

28.Rg1 Kg7 29.Rh1 Qd5

What should White play?

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30.Rxd3

The move White has been trying to avoid. Slightly better, according to the engines, is 30.Rc1, but there seems no good answer to 30...Rd2, followed by pushing queenside pawns to open lines against the white king.

30...exd3 31.Qd1 d2 32.Rg1 c5 33.b3

This is the engines' top choice, but White's position is completely lost. Indeed White is almost in zugzwang as neither the queen nor the rook can move, eg 33.Rg3? allows a quick mate starting 33...Qd3+ 34.Ka1 Qf1!

33...a5 34.Kb2 Qd3 35.g5 a4 36.a3 Qd5 37.b4 cxb4 38.axb4 Rc8?!

Black is still winning after this, but much better are 38...a4+!? and 38...Qd3.

39.Rg4?!

White keeps the game going, for a while, with 39.Qc2, although Black should win smoothly enough, eg 39...a3+!? 40.Ka1 Qe5 41.Qxd2 Rxc3 42.Qd4 Qxd4 43.exd4 Rxh3, when Black's advantage is roughly the equivalent of being a rook up, according to the engines, but it is a rook-and-pawn ending, which should give White hope.

39...Qd3 40.c4?!

Again it was possible to get down to a lost, but not quite completely hopeless, rook-and-pawn ending, ie 40.Rd4 Qxc3+ 41.Ka2 Qc2+ 42.Qxc2 Rxc2+ 43.Ka3.

40...bxc4 0-1

Benidorm Round Seven

Ignacio Fernández García (1802) - Spanton (1941)

Queen's Pawn Game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3!?

This has been played by grandmasters, but is only seventh-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

3...Nf6 4.e3!? c5

White is arguably playing the black side of a Chigorin Defrence to the Queen's Gambit, but with an extra tempo

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Whatever it is called, Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 are unimpressed - they already give Black at least equality.

5.Be2 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Nb5!?

The engines like this, which is why they prefer 6...a6.

7...Be7 8.c4 dxc4!?

All three games to reach the position in Mega25 saw 8...0-0, but the engines reckon the text is better.

9.Bxc4

They suggest 9.dxc5!? or 9.Qa4!?

9...a6 10.Nc3 b5 11.Be2 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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The position is symmetrical - in piece-structure, that is, not pawn-structure.

White has an extra pawn on the two central files, but a dark-square bishop restricted by its own pawns. Both engines call the game equal, although Dragon1 leans slightly towards Black.

12.Ne5?!

The engines reckon White should play 12.dxc5.

12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd5

Even stronger, according to the engines, is putting pressure on the doubled pawn with 13...Nd7.

14.Qc2

The engines suggest 14.Ne4 or 14.Nxd5, but agree Black has at least a slight edge.

14...Qc7 15.f4?!

Much better, according to the engines, is 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.f4, presumably the point being White then has a mobile kingside pawn-majority.

15...Nb4 16.Qb1 Bb7 17.a3 Nd5 18.Qxc2 Nxc3 19.bxc3!?

Stockfish17.1 reckons this is marginally better than recapturing with the queen, perhaps because the resulting pawn-structure makes it harder for Black to convert the queenside majority into a passed pawn. However, White now has two isolated pawns, which is likely why Dragon1 prefers 19.Qxc3.

19...Rfd8 20.a4!? Bc6 21.axb5 axb5

White's last two moves were the top choice of Stockfish17.1, which casts doubt on my explanation for the engine liking 19.bxc3!? as Black now has a conventional two-v-one majority

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22.Rb1

The engines prefer 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.c4!?, even though 23...b4 gives Black a protected passer.

22...Rab8 23.Bb2 c4!?

Now the b pawn is backward, but White's dark-square bishop will continue to find it hard to usefully get into the game.

24.Ra1 Bc5 25.Bc1 Qb6 26.Kh1

White can save the pawn, at least in the short term, with 26.Kf2!?, but that looks very risky.

The engines come to suggest 26.Bf3!? Rd3 27.Kh1, but 27...Bxf3 28.Rxf3 Rbd8 leaves Black well on top.

26...Bxe3 27.f5!?

This may be White's best chance, as otherwise there is no compensation for being a pawn down.

27...Bxc1 28.Raxc1 Qb7

This threatens both 29...Bxg2+, and 29...Be4 followed by 30...Bxf5.

29.Bf3 Rd3 30.fxe6 fxe6 31.Bxc6 Qxc6 32.Qf2 Qd7 33.Ra1 Rd2 34.Qf3

If 34.Qc5?!, then 34...Qd5 more-or-less forces queens off, leaving Black with a relatively easy double rook-and-pawn ending.

34...h6

How would you assess this heavy-piece middlegame?

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Black is not just a pawn up - the black pieces are well-placed for supporting the black majority and for eyeing targets at g2, c3 and e5. White's pieces control two open files, but the engines reckon Black's advantage is roughly equivalent to being up a minor piece.

35.Rad1!? Rd3 36.Rxd3!?

This is the engines' top choice, but after ...

36...cxd3 37.Rd1 d2

... the remaining white rook is virtually tied to the d1 square, making it difficult for White to create counterplay.

38.Qe2 Rd8 39.h3 Qd5 40.Kh2

No better is 40.Kg1 Qc5+ 41.Kh1 Qxc3 42.Qxb5 Qe3.

40...Qd3 41.Qg4 Qc4 42.Qxc4 bxc4 43.Kg1 Rd5 44.Kf2 Kf7 45.Kf3

45.Ke2 Rxe5+ 46.Kxd2 Rd5+ 47.Kc2 Rxd1 48.Kxd1 gives White a lost pawn ending.

45...Kg6 46.Ke4 Kg5 47.Kf3 Kf5 0-1

Halloween In The Meliá Lobby

Benidorm Round Six

Spanton (1941) - José Luis Guillen Montiel (1756)

Maróczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4

There are 9,849 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, where it scores a disappointing 50%.

3...a6

This is second in popularity to 3...Nc6, but is not liked by Stockfish17.1 or Dragon1, although both moves score 51%.

4.Nc3 Qc7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4

By a slightly unusual move-order, the game has reached a position occurring 3,176 times in Mega25

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6...Ne7!?

This rare continuation is not liked by the engines. Normal is 6...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

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7.Be3

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 for quite some time prefers 7.Ndb5!? axb5 8.Nxb5 Qc6 9.Nd6+ Kd8 10.Nxf7+ Ke8 11.Nxh8 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2, when the engines agree White is better, but the position is tricky to play for both sides.

7...Nbc6 8.Rc1!?

Tyring to take advantage of the Black queen's placement, but the engines prefer the straightforward 8.Be2.

8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc6 10.Qd2 b6!?

This seems to be a novelty, and is preferred by the engines over the known 10...Ne5.

11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Rb8?!

This is the engines' second choice, but they much prefer 12...Bc5, when play might continue 13.Rfd1 d6 (13...0-0 14.Qxd7) 14.Bf4, with what they reckon is at least the upper hand for White.

13.Rfd1

Even stronger, according to the engines, is 13.Na4.

13...d6?

It seems Black had to play 13...Bc5 or 13...Ne5!?, but White is on top.

After 13...d6? it is White to play and gain a winning advantage

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14.Nd5! exd5 15.cxd5 b5?!

Stockfish17.1 suggests 15...Qd7 16.dxc6 Bxc6, but 17.Bxa6 (17.Qd4!? may be stronger) wins a pawn, while keeping a large lead in development in a position that has suddenly opened.

Dragon1 gives 15...Be7 16.dxc6 Bc8, but 17.Bf4 (again 17.Qd4!? is a major alternative) leaves White with an advantage the engines agree is worth more than a rook.

16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Bg4 Bd7

What is White's best continuation?

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19.Bxd7+!

This is even better than winning the exchange with 19.Qxc7 Rxc7 20.Rxc7 Bxg4 21.f3.

19...Kxd7 20.Qb3 1-0

On 20...Qb7 I planned 21.Qxf7+ Be7 22.Rxd6+! (other moves also win, including 22.Qf5+), and after the forced 22...Kxd6 the quickest mate starts 23.Bf4+ Kd7 24.Rd1+. Similarly, after 20...Qd8 White has 21.Qxe7+ Be7 (or 21...Qe7) 22.Rxd6+! Kxd6 23.Qd5#.

Benidorm Round Five

Juan Carlos García Santiago (1721) - Spanton (1941)

French Tarrasch

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 a6!?

The main idea, as I understand it, of this move, which is sixth-most popular in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, is to happily play with an IQP, but without allowing White the move Bb5(+). For what it is worth, the text, for a long time, is the second choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, behind the immediate 3...c5. However, the engines do fluctuate, given lots of time, eg at one stage Stockfish17.1 comes to marginally prefer the text, while Dragon1 replaces the text with 3...dxe4 as second choice.

4.Ngf3 c5 5.exd5 exd5 6.c4!?

A rare continuation, but quite liked by the engines. I guess the point is to open the centre while White enjoys a slight lead in development. The move, despite its rarity, has a fine pedigree, having apparently been first played by a teenage Viktor Korchnoi in 1948.

How should Black respond?

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6...Nf6

This was Korchnoi's choice when he reached the position as Black in 1968.

7.Bd3

The main line in Mega25 runs 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bc4, with a sharp position that the engines reckon gives equal chances.

7...cxd4!?

The normal advice in such situations is to keep developing, rather than taking time to capture a pawn, but in this case the text seems reasonable.

How should White proceed?

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8.0-0!?

The engines like this, and 8.cxd5.

Contrary to first appearances, 8.Nxd4?! is possible, since 8...dxc4 can be met by 9.Bf5!, eg 9...Qxd4 10.Bxc8 Qe5+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Kxe2 b5, although the engines reckon White does not have enough for a pawn.

8...Be7 9.Re1 0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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Black is a pawn up, but White has a slight lead in development, and should not experience difficulties levelling material. The engines agree the game is equal.

10.Nb3

This is probably a novelty. Vladislav Federov (2455) - Moris Saruhanjan (2305), Alekhine Open (Moscow) 1996, continued 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nb3 Nc6 12.Nbxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bf6 14.Be4 h6, with what the engines reckon is an equal game (but 1-0, 46 moves).

10...Bg4

Perhaps more logical, but not necessarily better, is 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5, making use of the move 3...a6!?

11.cxd5 Nxd5

The engines like my other main thought of 11...Bb4!?

12.Bc4

Simpler is 12.Nbxd4.

12...Nb6 13.Be2 Nc6 14.Nfxd4 Bxe2 15.Rxe2

The engines prefer 15.Qxe2.

15...Bf6

Black perhaps has an edge after 15...Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bf6.

16.Be3 Nc4

The engines suggest moving the other knight, either to e5 or b4.

17.Nxc6 bxc6

A tad better may be 17...Qxd1+, but it is not clear.

18.Bd4 Rb8?!

Probably better is 18...Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Nxd4 Rfe8, but White has at least a slight edge.

19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qc2 Ne5

This is Dragon1's top choice; Stcokfish17.1 prefers 20...Nb6.

21.Qc3 Nd7

The engines suggest 21...Rb5 22.Rae1, and possibly then ...Nd7.

22.Qxf6 Nxf6 23.Rc2 Rb6 24.Rac1 Rd8?!

The engines give 24...Nd5!? 25.Rxc6 Rxc6 26.Rxc6 Nb4 27.Rb6 Nxa2, but only White has winning chances after 28.Rxa6 or 28.Nc5.

25.Kf1

And not 25.Rxc6?? Rxc6 26.Rxc6 Rd1#.

25...Rd6?

A waste of time as ...

26.Na5

... threatens to fork rooks with 27.Nc4, as well as thretening the c pawn.

26...Re6 27.Nxc6

Now White has won a pawn, how would you assess the position?

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White is winning, according to the engines, but naturally the game is hardly resignable.

27...g6 28.Nd4 Re4 29.Nf3 Reb4 30.b3 Nd5!?

Possibly better is 30...a5, seeking to give White an isolated, albeit passed, queenside pawn.

31.Rc6 Kg7 32.g3 h5 33.Kg2 a5?

It is too late for this as now the move is only weakening.

34.Rxb6 Nxb6

If 34...Rxb6?!, then 35.Rc5.

35.Rc7 a4 36.bxa4?!

This seems to throw away much of White's advantage. The engines give 36.Ne5, eg 36...Kf6 37.f4 Ke6 38.Rxf7 axb3 39.axb3 Rxb3 40.Rb7, when, despite there being pawns on only one side of the board, the engines reckon White is the equivalent of roughly a piece and a pawn ahead.

36...Rxa4?!

But now White is apparently clearly winning again. The engines give 36...Nd5!? 37.Rd7 Nf6 38.Ra7 Ne4, claiming White has 'only' the upper hand.

After 36...Ra4?! it is White to play and win

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37.Ne5

Right piece, wrong square. Winning is 37.Ng5!, and if, as in the game, 37...Kf6, then 38.f4! Rxa2+ 39.Kh3 Kg7 (forced) 40.Rxf7+ and 41.Rf6.

37...Kf6!

This saves the game.

38.Nxf7

38.f4!? is no longer anything special as after 38...Rxa2+ 39.Kh3 Black has 39...g5!, with mating threats.

38...Rxa2 39.Rc6+

Keeping knights on makes the draw a little less simple.

39...Kxf7 40.Rxb6 Kg7 41.h4 Kf7 42.Rbe Kf6 43.Rf3+ Ke5 ½–½

Stockfish17.1 reckons the game is completely equal (Dragon1 gives White an edge of 0.08), but I suspect most people, at least at club level, would play on to see if Black knew what he was doing.

Benidorm Round Four

FACED a Norwegian junior (born 2008) after taking a halfpoint bye in the first of today's double-round games.

Spanton (1941) - Tord Albrigtsen (1717)

Spanish Exchange

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.Be3 Bb4

This is the commonest continuation in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, and dates back to at least 1912.

10.Ne2 Re8!?

A little more popular is 10...Ne7, but Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 fluctuate between the two moves.

11.a3 Bxc3+!?

The engines prefer 11...Bd6, but the text was Svetozar Gligorić's choice when he reached the position.

12.Nxc3 f5!?

This may be a novelty. Gojko Laketić (2425) - Gligorić (2585), Yugoslav Championship (Kladovo) 1990, went 12...Nf6 13.f3 Nd5!? 14.Bd2 f5 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 fxe4 17.fxe4 Rxe4 18.Rae1!? Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Bf5!? 20.Bxg7 Rd8 21.Bf6 Rf8 22.Be7, when a draw was agreed.

13.exf5 Bxf5 14.0-0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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Stockfish17.1 calls the game completely equal, but Dragon1 reckons White has at least the better part of equality.

14...Nf6 15.h3 h5 16.Rhe1 h4?!

The engines dislike this, suggesting 16...Ne4 or 16...b6.

17.Bd4

The engines reckon 17.Bg5 gives White at least the upper hand, the point being the black h pawn is weak.

17...b6 18.Bxf6!?

White is slightly better after 18.f3 or 18.Be3, according to the engines.

18...gxf6 19.Ne2 Re4

The engines prefer 19...Rhg8.

20.Nd4 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Bd7

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

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Black has the better piece for working with a rook, especially with rival pawn-majorities, but that is outweighed by White's better pawn-structure, according to the engines.

22.Ne2?!

Better is 22.Nf3, targeting the weak h pawn.

22...Rh5?!

The pinning 22...Re8 equalises, according to the engines.

23.f4?!

Almost certainly the wrong idea. The engines reckon White has an edge after 23.Nf4.

23...c5!?

Not just taking away the d4 square from the knight, but preparing to target the backward g pawn.

24.Rf1 Bc6 25.Rf2 Rh7 26.f5 Rg7 27.Nf4 Rg5 28.Ng6?!

Probably better is 28.Ne6 Rxg2 29.Rxg2 Bxg2 30.Nf4 Be4 31.Ng6 Kd7 (not 31...Bxf5?? 32.Ne7+ and 33.Nxf5) 32.Nxh4, although Dragon1, but not Stockfish17.1, for quite some time reckons the line wins for Black.

28...Bxg2 29.Nxh4 Bxh3

Black has won a pawn and is winning the game, according to the engines

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30.Kd2 Rg4?!

The engines reckon 30...a5, or advancing the king with 30...Kb7 or 30...Kd7, is stronger.

31.Ng6 Kd7 32.Nf4 Rg3
Black is still at least slightly better after 32...Rh4, according to the engines.

33.Nd5 Rg5 34.Nxf6+ Kc6

Not 34...Kd6?? 35.Ne4+ and 36.Nxg5.

35.Ne4 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Bxf5

How would you assess this bishop-v-knight ending?

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With pawns all on one side of the board, Black's extra pawn should not prevail, but Black can play on with little risk.

37.Ng3 Bg6 38.c3 Kb5 39.Ne2 a5 40.Nf4 Be4 41.Ne6 Kc6 42.c4!?

Putting a pawn on the same colour complex as the bishop, making it a possible target, but the engines are fine with the move, which gains space.

42...Kd6 43.Ng5 Bg2

White to play and hold the draw

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44.Ke3?

The engines show 44.a4!? or 44.b3!? is necessary.

Black to play and gain a winning advantage

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44...Bf1

It seems the only winning move is 44...a4!, a possible continuation being 45.Kf4 (this is White's best try, according to the engines) Ke7! (if 45...Bf1, then 46.Ne4+ and 47.Nd2) 46.Ke5 c6, after which the c4 pawn falls. If 45.Kd3, then 45...Ke5 46.Nf7+ Ke6!? 47.Ng5+ Kf5 48.Nf7 Bf1+ 49.Kc3 Kf6! 50.Nd8 Bg2 traps the knight.

45.Ne4+ Kc6 46.Nd2 Bg2 47.a4!?

Not the only drawing move.

47...Kb7!? 48.Kf4 Bc6 49.b3

All white pawns are on the same colour complex as the bishop, but the position is drawn

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49...Be8 50.Kc5 Bh5

White to play and hold the draw

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51.Kd5?

Three king moves draw (51.Ke6, 51.Ke4 and 51.Kf6!?), but the text is not one of them, and 51.Ne4? also loses, according to the engines.

Black to play and win

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51...Bd1

The winning move is 51...Kc8!, when play might run 52.Ke6 Kd8 53.Ne4 Bd1 54.Nd2 Bc2 55.Kf6 Kd7 56.Ke5 c6!? 57.Kf4 (57.Kf6 Kd6) Ke6 58.Ke3 Ke5 59.Nf3+ Kf5 60.Nd2 Bd1 61.Kd3 Kf4 62.Kc3 Bg4! (if 62...Ke3 then 63.Nb1!? seems to hold) 63.Kd3 Bf5+ 64.Ke2 Bc2! 65.Kf2 Bd3 66.Nf3 Ke4 67.Nd2+ Kd4 with ...Kc3 etc to come.

However, if White had played, for example, 51.Ke6, the plan with 51...Kc8 does not work, as Black has 52.Ke7. Similarly, 51.Ke4 Kc8 is also fine for White, eg 52.Kd3 Kd7 53.Kc3 Kd6 54.Nf1 Ke5 55.Ne3 c6 56.Nc2 Kf4 57.Kd3!? Bg6+ 58.Kd2 Bxc2 59.Kxc2 Ke3 60.Kc3, and the pawn ending is drawn. 

[I do not suppose it needs stating, but, just in case, this is all engine analysis.]

After 51...Bd1, White has one drawing move

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52.Ke5

Only 52.Ke6! draws, as after the text the ...Kc8 plan again works. 52.Ke4 also loses to 52...Bc2+, followed by the ...Kc8 plan.

52...c6 53.Kd6 Bc2 54.Kd7 Bh7 55.Nf3 Bf5+ 56.Kd6 Be4 57.Nd2 Bg2 58.Kd7 Bh3+ 59.Kd6 Bf5 60.Ke5 Bg4 61.Kd6 Bd1 62.Kd7 Be2 63.Kd6 Bg4 64.Ne4 Be2 65.Nd2 Bd3 66.Nf3 Be2 67.Nd2 Bd1 68.Kd7 b5

The final try

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69.axb5

The engines show 69.Kd6!? bxa4 70.bxa4 Bxa4 71.Kxc5 also draws, while 69.cxb5 transposes to the game.

69...cxb5 70.cxb5 Kb6 71.Nc4+ Kxb5 72.Kd6

An only-move, but there was little real choice.

72...Bxb3

Or 72...a4 73.Na3+ Kb4 74.bxa4 Bxa4 with similar play as in the game.

73.Nxa5! Bf7 74.Nc6

Not 74.Nb7? c4 75.Nc5 c3 76.Ne4 c2 77.Nc3+ Kc4 78.Ne2 Kd3 79.Nc1+ Kc2 80.Nc3+ Bxc3.

74...c4 75.Nd4+ Kb4 76.Nc2+ Kb3 77.Nd4+ Kc3 78.Kc5 Kd3 79.Nc6 c3 80.Nb4+ Ke3 81.Nc2+ Ke4!?

Nothing wins - it is a tablebase draw.

82.Ne1 Bg8 83.Kb4 Kd4 84.Nf3+ Kd3 85.Ne1+ Kd2 86.Nf3+ Kc2 87.Ne1+ Kb2 88.Nd3+ Kc2 89.Ne1+ Kd2 90.Nf3+ Ke3 91.Kxc3 Kxf3 ½–½

Benidorm Round Two

Miguel Penadés Ordaz (1826) - Spanton (1941)

Spanish Cozio

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.c3

This is second in popularity to 4.0-0, which is the choice of Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, along with 4.Nc3.

4...g6

More popular is 4...a6, which is also liked by the engines, but Stockfish17.1's top choice is 4...d5, and Dragon1's top choice is the rare 4...f6!?

5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4!?

The mainline in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database runs 6.cxd4 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.0-0, with a slight edge for White, according to the engines.

6...Bg7 7.Bg5

The engines prefer 7.Nxc6 or 7.Be3.

7...0-0 8.Nxc6!?

Apparently a novelty, and marginally preferred by the engines over the known move 8.0-0.

8...bxc6 9.Be2!?

Probably not 9.Bxc6?! as after 9...dxc6 10.Qxd8 Rxd8 11.Bxe7 Black has 11...Re8, when Black is getting back the pawn and emerging with the bishop-pair and a lead in development, albeit with a smashed queenside.

9...Rb8 10.Qc1!? d5 11.exd5

The engines suggest 11.f3!? or 11.Nd2.

11...cxd5 12.0-0

Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position?

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Black has a slight lead in development, and the only pawn on the two central files, giving a slight edge, according to the engines, despite Black also having an extra pawn island.

12...Bf5 13.Rd1 Re8 14.Nd2 c5 15.Nb3 c4?

Black is better after 15...Qb6, according to the engines, eg 16.Bf3 a5!? 17.Re1 Be6 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 19.Bxd5 a4 20.Bxe6 Rxe6 21.Rxe6 fxe6 22.Nd2 Qxb2.

16.Bxc4!

Winning one pawn, and threatening another.

16...Qc8 17.Bxd5!?

The engines prefer the more circumspect 17.Bf1.

The problem with the text is that after ...

17...Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Be4

... Black gets practical attacking chances in return for being two pawns down.

19.Rc5!?

The only move to keep an advantage, according to the engines, eg 19.Rd1?? Qg4 20.f3 Bxf3 is hopeless for White.

19...Qg4 20.Qf1 Be5 21.Be3 Rbd8?

The engines strongly dislike this, suggesting 21...Qe6, 21...Bd6 or 21...Ba8, albeit agreeing White is much better.

22.Nd4?

Missing the strength of 22.f3, when both 22...Qh4 and 22...Qh5 can be met by 23.Rxe5!, which is not the only winning move.

22...Qh4!?

Retreating the queen to d7, either immediately or after 22...Bd6 23.Ra5, is better, according to the engines, but Black has little to show for two pawns.

23.g3?!

The engines reckon best is 23.h5.

23...Qf6

White's king is no longer in imminent danger, but White's light-square weaknesses give Black long-term compensation

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24.f3 Bb7 25.Qf2 h5 26.Kg2!? g5?!

Probably more weakening than attacking. The engines reckon Black is fine after 26...Qe7.

27.Kg1 Kh8?

Better is 27...h4, when White still has difficulties.

28.Rf1 h4

A move too late.
29.f4!

The best continuation in a sharp position.

29...hxg3 30.hxg3?!

Capturing with the queen is almost certainly superior.

30...gxf4?

Better is 30...Qh6, when White has to find 31.Rc6! Bxc6 32.Nxc6 Qxc6 33.fxe5, and Black in turn needs to find 33...Rxe5! 34.Bd4 Rxd4 35.cxd4 Re7, after which 36.d5! gives White an edge, according to the engines, but no more.

31.Bxf4

White remains two pawns up, and with the much safer king

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31...Bxd4

Perhaps best is 31...Rd5 32.Rxd5 Bxd5, but 33.Re1 Kg7 34.Bxe5 Rxe5 35.Qxf6+! Kxf6 36.Rxe5 Kxe5 37.b3 leaves White with a comfortably winning minor-piece ending.

32.Rh5+ Kg8 33.cxd4 Qc6?

This makes it easy for White, but 33...Qxd4 34.Qxd4 Rxd4 35.Be5 forces Black to give up the exchange.

The game finished:

34.Be5 f6 35.Bxf6 Rd6 36.Rh8+ Kf7 37.Rh7+ Kg8 38.Rg7+ Kf8 39.Be5+ Rf6 40.Qxf6+ Qxf6 41.Bxf6 Re2 42.Rxb7 1-0

Benidorm Round One

Spanton (1941) - Arturo Pérez Pascual (1717)

1.Nc3

1.Nc3 e5 2.Nf3 d6!?

The main move is 2...Nc6, but the text has also been played by grandmasters, and scores three percentage points better in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database.

3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 d5?!

It is doubtful if Black can afford a non-developing move at this point. Normal is 4...Nf6.

How should White proceed?

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5.Bf4

Stronger, according to Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1, is 5.e4.

5...c6?!

The c7 square looked vulnerable, but this is another non-developing move. Black should probably play 5...Nf6, relying on ...Na6 to protect c7 if the need arises.

6.e4

The only game to reach the position in Mega25 saw the much less convincing 6.e3?!, after which 6...Nf6 gave Black a reasonable game.

6...Bb4!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice; Dragon1 prefers 6...dxe4.
7.exd5 Qxd5

The engines suggest offering a pawn with 7...Ne7!?, albeit agreeing White the upper hand after 8.dxc6 Nbxc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Nxc6.

If 7...cxd5, then 8.Ndb5!? Na6 9.Qd4 seems strong.

8.Qd2 Bxc3 9.Qxc3 Qe4+ 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Bd3!?

Offering a pawn.

How should Black respond

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11...Qe7

This is best, according to the engines, which reckon 11...Qxg2?! 12.0-0-0 gives White a huge attack.

12.0-0-0 Nd5!? 13.Qd2 Nxe3 14.Rhe1!

Black is fine after either immediate capture on e3.

14...0-0 15.Rxe3 Qc7 16.Nf5?!

It was probably better to build up slowly with 16.Rg3 or 16.Rde1.

16...Bxf5 17.Bxf5 g6 18.Rh3!? Qe5!

The only move to keep the game going, according to the engines, and certainly not 18...gxf5?? 19.Qg5+ etc.

19.Bd3 Qg7

How would you assess this middlegame?

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Black has beaten off White's mating attack, but White remains with a large lead in development - enough for a winning advantage, according to the engines.

20.Qb4!? Nd7!?

The engines fluctuate between this and 20...b5.

Should White grab the b pawn?

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21.Qxb7!

The only move to keep a winning advantage, according to the engines.

21...Ne5!?

Not 21...Rfb8? as 22.Qxd7 Qxb2+ 23.Kd2 leaves Black with nowhere near enough for a bishop.

22.Qb3?!

Stronger is 22.Qb4, as will soon become clear.

22...Ng4

Even better seems to be the engines' 22...Qf6!?, after which Black wins back the sacrificed pawn as the queen threatens 23...Qg5+, followed by ...Qxg2, as well as 23...Qxf2. White's best, according to the engines, is 23.Be2!? Qxf2 24.Qe3, when White has at least a slight edge thanks to Black's isolated queenside pawns and the fact White has the better minor piece for playing on a relatively open board.

23.Rf3 Ne5?!

23...Nxh2!? looks very risky after 24.Rf4, but 23...Qh6+ 24.Kb1 Qxh2 leaves White only slightly better (Stockfish17.1) or at best with the upper hand (Dragon1).

24.Re3

Maybe even stronger is 24.Rf4.

24...Ng4 25.Re2 Rab8

The engines prefer 25...Qh6+ 26.Kb1 Qxh2, but agree White has at least the upper hand.

26.Qa3

The engines reckon 26.Qc3!? Qxc3 27.bxc3 also gives White a winning advantage.

26...Qh6+ 27.Kb1 Qf4?

White is also winning after 27...Qxh2 28.g3, according to the engines, but less clearly so.

28.Re4 Qg5 29.h4!? Qf5

If 29...Qxh4, then 30.f3.

30.Ra4

Best is 30.Re8!, which wins the black queen as White threatens 31.Qxf8#.

30...Qe6 31.Re4 Qc8!

There was no way I would have accepted a draw by repetition after 31...Qf5, and the engines agree the text is Black's best move.

32.Re2 Re8?!

APP was presumably worried about an invasion on the seventh rank, but the engines much prefer 32...Nf6, when 33.Re7 can be met by, among other moves, 33...Nd5, with counterplay, and if 33.Qxa7!?, then 33...Qg4, or possibly again 33...Nd5, making life a little uncomfortable for White.

33.Rde1

Even stronger is 33.Qxa7!?, eg 33...Ra8 34.Rxe8+ Qxe8 35.Qd4, when White is two pawns up and not under threat.

33...Rxe2 34.Rxe2 Qc7 35.g3 Qb6 36.Qb3 Qc7 37.Qc3 Qd6 38.b3 Nf6 39.Qe5 Qxe5 40.Rxe5

How would you assess this rook-and-minor-piece ending?

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White is a pawn up, has fewer pawn islands and has the better minor piece, all of which add up to what the engines reckon is a winning advantage.

40...Kf8 41.Rc5 Rb6 42.a4 Nd7 43.Ra5 Rb7 44.Be4 Rc7

Black had no choice but to defend the weak pawns, which helps explain why the engines reckon White is winning, rather than just having the upper hand

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45.Ra6 Nb8

Not 45...Nc5??, forking rook and bishop, as Black replies 46.Rxc6.

46.Ra5 Nd7 47.Kb2 Ke7 48.Kb2 Kd6 49.f4!?

This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, although Dragon1 prefers 49.b4!?

49...Nf6 50.Bf3 Nd7 51.g4 f6 52.Kd3 Rb7 53.Kc4 Nb6+ 54.Kc3 Nd7 55.b4 Rc7 56.Kd4 Rb7

Perhaps Black should try  56...c5+ 57.bxc5+ Nxc5, but the engines reckon White is still winning after, for example, 58.f5 gxf5 59.gxf5.

57.b5 c5+ 58.Kd3 Rc7 59.Ra6+ Ke7 60.Rc6 Rb7 61.Re6+ Kxe6 62.Bxb7

The minor-piece ending is easily won for White.

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62...Kd6 63.a5 Kc7 64.Be4 Kd6 65.Kc4 Nb8 66.Bd5 h6 67.g5 fxg5 68.fxg5 hxg5 69.hxg5 Nd7 70.Be4

Not 70.Bf7?? Ne5+.

The game finished:

70...Ke5 71.Bc6 Nb8 72.Kxc5 Kf5 73.b6 axb6+ 74.Kxb6 Kxg5 75.Kb7 Nxc6 76.Kxc6 Kf4 77.a6 g5 78.a7 g4 79.a8=Q g3 80.Kd6 1-0

Playing Conditions (Meliá)

Main tournament hall before round one

Getting There (Hotel Meliá, Benidorm)

CAUGHT Easyjet's 12:20 flight from Gatwick to Alicante, boarded a Beniconnect coach, and arrived at Hotel Meliá, which is where all competitors, apart from locals, have to stay, shortly before 18:00 central European time.

View from my balcony

El Chess

AM flying to Alicante today for the Benidorm Chess Open, which is being held at Hotel Meliá at the Levante end of the resort.

I have entered the U2000, which has 177 entries, including seven other England-registered players.

There are nine rounds over eight days, with the modern standard Fide time control of 90 minutes and a 30-second increment.

How Much Is 150 Euros Worth?

JUST £96.99, apparently; at least that is how much arrived in my bank account this morning.

I won 150 euros at Benidorm earlier this month, but I knew there is a Spanish "withholding" tax deducted from such prizes, and anyway my play did not deserve any monetary award, so I should not complain.

Benidorm: Typical Mistakes & How To Avoid Them (Part Nine)

MY last-round game in the Benidorm (Meliá) U2000 tournament, which be seen here, is a classic example of what happens when a player drinks excessively the evening before a morning game.

Benidorm: Typical Mistakes & How To Avoid Them (Part Eight)

BOTH players were happy to head for the following endgame in my round-eight game at the Benidorm (Meliá) U2000 tournament.

Guillaume Mallevaey (1761) has just captured a pawn on b7

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Black is a pawn down and White has a mobile pawn-majority, but I thought the presence of opposite-coloured bishops gave very good drawing chances.

In fact, even if the black b pawn could be put back on the board, at b6, White may well be winning.

Firstly, Black cannot prevent the white king penetrating the black position, and secondly the f5 pawn is a chronic weakness that will tie down the black king.

White won with a minimum of trouble:
32...Bd8 33.Kf2 Kf6 34.Ke2 Kg6 35.Bc8 Kf6 36.Kd2 Bc7 37.Kc2 Bd8 38.Kb3 Bc7 39.Ka4 Bd8 40.Kb5 Kg6 41.Kc6 Be7 42.Kd7 Kf6 43.Bb7 Bf8 44.Bd5 Be7 45.Ke8 1-0

My mistake in heading for this ending was a mix of over-optimism and a failure to properly assess the weakness of Black's position. Instead I relied on a general principle, that endings with opposite-coloured bishops, and no other pieces (apart from kings), are drawish.

Benidorm: Typical Mistakes & How To Avoid Them (Part Seven)

I MAY have missed a win with white against Daniel Martínez Dourado (1837) in round seven at the Benidorm (Meliá) U2000 tournament. 

Black has just played 41...h5

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White has an extra pawn, but the white kingside pawns are targets for the bishop. My main analysis  engines reckon White is winning after 42.Ke2 or 42.Nc7. However they reckon both moves are of exactly equal value (+6.50, according to Stockfish15; +2.66, according to Komodo13.02), which in an ending is often a sign that such an advantage is not real.

I played 42.h3?, after which the engines reckon White has at best just a slight edge.

It is fairly easy to see why White's advantage might be negligible, so let's take a look at how the engines reckon the game could have been won.

The first point after 42.Ke2 is that 42...Bg1 can be met by 43.Nb4, when 43...Bxh2 44.Kf3 means the black a pawn will fall, giving white a passed pawn.

So instead the engines suggest 42...Bd6 43.Kd3 Bc5 44.Nc7 Bg1 45.Ke2 a5 46.Kf3 Bc5, when it is not completely clear how White makes progress.

One line runs 47.Nd5 Ke6 48.Ne3 Bb6 49.Ke2 Bd8 50.Kd3 Bb6 51.Nc4!? Bg1 52.Ke2 Bxh2 53.Kf3 Bg1 54.Nxa5 Kd5, when White has a passed pawn but the black king is very active.

A possible continuation is 55.Nb7 Kc6 56.Nd8+ Kd7 57.Nf7 Ke6 58.Ne5 Bb6 59.Nc4 Ba7 60.a5 Kd5 61.Ne3+ Ke6 62.a6 Bc5 63.Ke2 Bb6 64.Kd3 Ba7 65.Ng2 Bb6 66.Nh4 Bg1 67.Kc4 Bf2 68.Kb5 Kd5 69.Nxf5 Ke4 70.Nd6+ Kd5 71.Nc8 Ke4 72.Nb6 and wins.

Is this convincing? Perhaps, but there were many alternatives along the way for both sides.

Now let's look at the game continuation.

Black played 42...Bd6, and I created a passed pawn on the kingside by 43.g4?! fxg4+ 44.hxg4 hxg4+ 45.Kxg4, but after 45...Ke6 the position is almost certainly drawn.

A better try may be 43,Ke3 Bc5+ 44.Kd3, but 44...Bf2 shows why my 42nd move was mistaken, ie 43.Nb4 Bxg3 44.Nxa6 Bxf4 gives Black a rival passed pawn and a fairly smooth path to a draw.

I am far from convinced by much of my (engine-assisted) analysis here, and any win after 42.Ke2 or 42.Nc7 is not easy, but 42.h3? followed by 43.g4?! was part of a faulty plan that left too few pawns on the board.

However 42.h3? with following up by pushing the g pawn was wrong anyway, as concrete analysis shows getting the pawn off a dark square weakens the remaining white kingside pawns.