Grob's Attack

Grob's Attack
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
g4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.g4
ECOA00
Named afterHenri Grob
Synonym(s)Spike Opening
Ahlhausen's Opening
Genoa Opening
San Pier D'Arena Opening
Fric's Opening
Kolibri's Opening

Grob's Attack is an unconventional chess opening in which White begins with the move:

1. g4

Although it has a cult following, it is widely considered to be one of the worst possible first moves for White. International Master (IM) John Watson writes, "As far as I can tell, 1 g4 is competitive with 1 h4 for the honour of being White's worst first move. Against an informed or skilled opponent, it is simply masochistic."[1]

  1. ^ John Watson, Mastering the Chess Openings, Volume 4, Gambit Publications, 2010, p. 275. ISBN 978-1-906454-19-7.