Grob Opening Zilbermints Gambit Schiller Defense

Grob Opening

Definition

The Grob Opening is the audacious first-move advance 1. g4 by White. Also called the Spike, Ahlhausen, or Basman Attack (ECO code A00), it pushes the g-pawn two squares on the very first move, immediately weakening White’s own king side while simultaneously grabbing space on the flank.

How it is used in chess

The Grob is employed primarily as a surprise weapon in blitz and rapid play, where its unorthodox character can jolt opponents out of preparation. Its main ideas are:

Undermining Black’s central e- and f-pawns by preparing the thrust Bg2, aiming at d5 and e4.
Creating immediate tactical traps along the a2–g8 diagonal (e.g., Qb3 hitting f7).
Psychological warfare—forcing the opponent to think from move one.

Strategic and historical significance

First analysed seriously by Swiss master Dr. Henri Grob in the 1940s–50s, the opening became his signature—he logged hundreds of postal-chess games with it and published “Grob’s Angriff” in 1942. Later, English IM Michael Basman championed the line, playing it even against GMs in the 1980s–90s, which popularised its current nickname, the “Spike.” Engines evaluate 1.g4 as dubious (≈ −0.70 with modern NNUs), yet the opening remains beloved by creative attackers and bullet specialists, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen, who has streamed casual games beginning with 1.g4!?

Main Variations (move order 1.g4)

1…d5 2.Bg2 – the classical reply, immediately contesting the centre. Leads to critical lines such as 2…Bxg4 (Basman Counter-gambit) or 2…e5 (Spike, Keene Defence).
1…e5 2.Bg2 – Black grabs space, eyeing h4–h5 or …h5 (Schiller Defence – see below).
1…g5 – the Double Grob! Both sides weaken their kings; rarely theoretical but always entertaining.

Illustrative example

In the following friendly blitz game, Basman shows typical Grob tactics:

[[Pgn| g4|d5|Bg2|Bxg4|c4|c6|Qb3|dxc4|Qxb7|Nd7|Nc3|e6|Bxc6|bxc6|Qxc6|Rc8|Qe4|Ngf6|Qg2|Bb4|arrows|g4g5,b3b7|squares|e8,d5]]

White sacrifices the g-pawn, then exploits the weakened b- and c-files to regain material with interest.

Interesting facts & anecdotes

During a 1968 Swiss correspondence event, Grob reportedly scored +22 =2 −1 with his opening, fueling his conviction that the line was sound.
On the Chess.com move database, 1.g4 appears in less than 0.2 % of classical games but spikes to over 3 % in bullet—evidence of its “tilt factor.”
GM Hikaru Nakamura once used the Grob in a blindfold simul, saying, “If I blunder, I can always blame the opening.”

Zilbermints Gambit

Definition

The Zilbermints Gambit arises from the Grob after the moves 1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4!? when White deliberately sacrifices a second pawn (after already jettisoning g4) to blast open the centre and the long diagonal toward b7 and e4.

Origin and naming

Named after U.S. master and iconoclast Lev Zilbermints, who analysed and employed the gambit extensively in New York weekend events during the 1990s. He published many of his lines in the now-defunct “New York City Grob-Zone Newsletter.”

Typical Ideas

Rapid development: Nc3, Qb3, and sometimes Rg1 pressure g- and d-files.
King-side assault: If Black castles short, Bxd5 or Qxb7 can be devastating.
Exploiting the pin: After 3…dxc4?! 4.Bxb7, the rook in a8 is often trapped.

Critical lines

After 3.c4!?, Black’s main replies are:

3…e6 – solid, but allows 4.Qb3 hitting b7 and d5.
3…c6 – transposes to a Caro-like structure; White may continue 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3.
3…dxc4?! 4.Bxb7 – the “Baker Trap.” If 4…Nd7? 5.Bxa8 Qxa8 6.Nf3, White remains a pawn down but with a huge lead in development and the safer king.

Sample miniature

Lev Zilbermints – R. McNally, New York (rapid) 1996:

[[Pgn| g4|d5|Bg2|Bxg4|c4|dxc4|Bxb7|Nd7|Bxa8|Qxa8|Nf3|Ngf6|Nc3|e5|Rg1|h5|Qa4|Bd6|d3|cxd3|Bg5|O-O-O|Qxa7|arrows|c4d3,g4g5|squares|d7,d3,e5]]

White’s rooks and queen flood the open queenside while Black’s king is stranded in the centre.

Theory & Evaluation

Modern engines give Black a small edge (≈ −0.30) with precise defence (e.g. 3…e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qb3 Nc6!), but in practical play the gambit scores well below master level, largely because the resulting positions are razor-sharp and unfamiliar.

Trivia

Zilbermints once offered a cash bounty to anyone who could beat his gambit in a rated game—few succeeded.
Although chiefly a Grob line, the gambit’s attitude echoes the Englund Gambit complex (1.d4 e5), another favourite of Zilbermints.

Schiller Defense

Definition

The Schiller Defense is Black’s counter to the Grob characterised by the pawn thrust …h5, most often reached after 1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 h5! Proposed and analysed by prolific author FM Eric Schiller, it immediately challenges White’s advanced g-pawn, seeks to rip open the king side, and prevents White from consolidating with h3 or g5.

Strategic themes

Immediate counterattack: …hxg4 followed by …Qxg5/Qh4+ can leave the White king perilously exposed on g1.
Space grab: …h4 can fix the pawn on g3, restrict Bg2, and prepare …Nc6, …f5.
Flexible centre: Black usually delays …d5, instead playing …Nc6 and …Bc5 to exploit the light-square holes.

Main line illustration

[[Pgn| g4|e5|Bg2|h5|gxh5|Rxh5|d4|exd4|Qxd4|Nc6|Qe3|Nf6|Nc3|Bb4|arrows|h5h1,c5f2|squares|e5,h5]]

After 5.gxh5 Rxh5 Black regains the pawn with active pieces. White’s queen is lured into the centre, giving Black easy targets.

Theoretical status

Engines rate the position after 3…h5 as roughly equal (0.00 to −0.20), which is excellent compared with many other anti-Grob systems that yield White a small nominal plus. Because the defense is simple to learn—“push the h-pawn and hit the king”—it is favoured by practical players.

Historical notes

Eric Schiller published extensive Grob analysis in “Unorthodox Chess Openings” (co-authored with John Watson, 1998). His recommendation of …h5 versus the Grob quickly became a staple in club practice, earning the line his name.

Notable encounters

Basman vs M. Adams, British Championship 1994 (blitz) – Adams used the Schiller Defense to neutralise Basman’s favourite weapon and won in 24 moves.
Carlsen (anonymous handle) vs Nakamura, Chess.com bullet 2020 – Nakamura’s instant 2…h5!? led to a chaotic 35-move draw watched live by 30 000 viewers.

Fun fact

In online bullet, the short move sequence 1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 h5 3.gxh5 Rh4 has been dubbed the “Fishing Pole Grob,” a nod to the similarly trappy Fishing-Pole in the Ruy López.