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Chess Opening Theory/1. g4/1...e5

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. g4
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Grob's Attack
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 white pawnh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 black kingh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/6P1/8/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKBNR w

Moves: 1.g4 e5
ECO code: A00

Grob's Attack

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1. g4 e5

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This move is interesting not because it is a commonly-played move, nor because it gives an advantage to either player (though Black should still be far better), but because White has not one, but two moves that lead to an early checkmate for Black. 2. f4?? transposes to the From Gambit of the Bird’s Opening, but this matters little because black can easily mate. 2. f3?? leads to the same early demise for white, this time transposing to the Barnes Opening. Both these blunders are called Fool's Mate, and tie for the fastest possible checkmate for black.

Although Grob's Attack is itself rarely used among serious players, 2. d3 is a more serious alternative. White will still be objectively worse, but can put up a good fight in spite of their weak kingside, and lack of resistance in the centre.

There is also 2. Bg2 which attempts to get into a psuedo-King's Indian with the g pawn able to kick out a potential f6 knight.

Win percentages

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Masters

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White wins: 36% | Draw: 15% | Black wins: 48%

Lichess

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White wins: 48% | Draw: 3% | Black wins: 49%

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.g4 e5

2 3 4
Grob's Attack d3
d5		 Bg2
Nc6		 g5
Ng8		 =/+
Bg2

d5

c4

c6

cxd5

cxd5

=/+
Bird Opening (transposition) f4??
Qh4#

0-1
Barnes Opening (transposition) f3??
Qh4#

0-1

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Wikipedia has related information at Grob's Attack

References

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  • Michael Basman (1989). The Killer Grob. Pergamon chess openings. ISBN 0080371310.
  • Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.


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