Chess Opening Theory/1. g4

Grob's Attack
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/6P1/8/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKBNR b
Moves: 1.g4
ECO code: A00
Parent: Starting position

1. g4 · Grob's Attack

Grob's Attack is generally considered to be one of the worst starting moves, if not the single worst starting move, for White. However, if White knows some theory and Black is caught by surprise, this opening can be playable even at high levels. An unprepared player with Black can be led into dangerous territory, especially if they fixate on attacking the g4-pawn early.

There are no big lines in Grob’s Attack. To illustrate this, there is an opening called the Coca-Cola Gambit.

Statistics

No stats as 1. g4 occurs rarely among serious chess players.

Theory table

1. g4
	1	2	3	4
	g4 d5	Bg2 c6	h3 e5	d4 e4	c4 Bd6	=/+
	... ...	... Bxg4!?	c4 c6	cxd5 cxd5	Qb3	=
	... e5	d3 d5	Bg2 Nc6	h3 Nge7	=/+

References

• Michael Basman (1989). The Killer Grob. Pergamon chess openings. ISBN 0080371310.
• Claude Bloodgood (2010). The Tactical Grob. Ishi Press. ISBN 487187866X.
• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

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