Grob Opening, Grob Gambit & Hurst Attack
Grob Opening
Definition
The Grob Opening (also called the “Spike” or “Ahlhausen” Opening) is the audacious first move:
1. g4
From move one White voluntarily weakens the king-side dark squares and exposes the g-pawn in return for rapid, unorthodox play on the flanks. In ECO it is catalogued as A00 (irregular openings).
Typical Move-Order & Key Ideas
- 1…d5 2.Bg2 – the main tabiya. Black immediately challenges the centre while White fianchettoes and eyes the d5-square.
- 1…e5 2.Bg2 h5 – Black hits back on the weakened g-file; the position quickly sharpens.
- White often follows with h3, c4, Qb3 or even g5 to undermine the e7–square and provoke weaknesses.
- In many lines White castles long (0-0-0) and tries to attack down the g- and h-files; Black in return targets the half-open g-file and the weakened diagonal h1–a8.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Although modern engines rate 1.g4 as objectively unsound (≈ +0.5 for Black), its shock value remains large at club level. The opening is named after Swiss master Henry Grob, who scored remarkable results with the move in thousands of correspondence games during the 1930s-40s, amassing an overall plus score against strong opposition. Today it is occasionally employed as a surprise weapon—grandmasters Baadur Jobava, Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen have all tried it in blitz or bullet.
Illustrative Miniature
The diagram (Grob–NN, Correspondence 1942) shows the thematic Qb3-Qxb7 idea: White sacrifices g- and c-pawns, but the queen infiltrates the queenside while the Bg2 keeps pressure on d5.
Interesting Facts
- When Henry Grob met GM Daniel Noteboom in a 1933 simul, Grob needed only twelve moves to win after 1.g4!?
- Because the pawn on g4 looks like a spike protruding from the formation, British amateurs nick-named the line the “Spike” Opening.
- Online blitz statistics () show that below 1700 Elo, White scores a respectable 48 %, but the win-rate falls rapidly above 2200.
Grob Gambit
Definition
The Grob Gambit is the main sacrificial line within the Grob Opening, beginning:
1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4White deliberately offers first the g-pawn (taken on move two) and then a second pawn after 3…dxc4 in order to seize the centre, open lines for both bishops, and lure the black queen to an exposed post.
How It Is Played
- 3…dxc4 4.Qa4+ – forks c4 and g4; if 4…c6 5.Qxc4, White has regained one pawn with active pieces.
- 3…e6 4.Qb3 – immediate pressure on b7, often forcing …Nc6 and …Rb8, dislocating Black’s queenside.
- White usually follows with Nc3, d3, Be3 and long castling, aiming at a full-scale assault down the g- and h-files.
Strategic & Practical Evaluation
Objectively Black retains at least a small advantage with accurate defence (engines: –0.7 to –1.2), yet the gambit scores well in rapid time controls because:
- Black must know several precise replies to avoid falling into tactical traps (e.g. 4…Bd7? 5.Bxd5!).
- The unusual pawn structure drags opponents out of mainstream opening theory by move three.
- White’s attacking chances are concrete and immediate; mishandling by Black can lead to disaster on the light squares surrounding his king.
Famous Example
Nakamura – Carlsen, “Titled Tuesday” 2021 (Blitz)
Nakamura employed the Grob Gambit, quickly reached a position with two pawns for a raging initiative and eventually won in 26 moves after a dazzling queen sacrifice. Even world champions can stumble when surprised!
Trivia
- The gambit line was once called the “Swiss Gambit,” honouring Henry Grob’s nationality, before the simpler label “Grob Gambit” prevailed.
- In correspondence chess ICCF code D00, some specialists play 3.c4 exclusively; their databases contain more than 5,000 games in the sub-variation.
Hurst Attack
Definition
The Hurst Attack is an enterprising branch of the Trompowsky Attack characterised by an immediate pawn-storm against Black’s knight after:
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4!?Named after the English correspondence expert J. E. Hurst, the idea is to harass the knight on e4, keep the dark-squared bishop active, and prepare a quick kingside initiative.
Typical Continuation & Themes
- 3…d5 4.Nd2 – White reinforces the bishop, plans e2-e3 and c2-c4, while the pawn on h4 stops …h6.
- 3…c5 4.dxc5 – White grabs space; if 4…Nxg5 5.hxg5, the half-open h-file becomes a permanent attacking avenue.
- 3…Nxg5 4.hxg5 – the “Hook,” leaving the g-pawn as bait; after …e5 White can castle long and attack with e2-e4, f2-f4.
Strategic Considerations
- The advance h2-h4 secures g5 for the bishop or pawn and prevents Black from calmly developing his kingside.
- White typically delays castling; queenside castling is common, followed by a pawn-storm g2-g4-g5.
- Black’s best antidote is rapid central counter-play with …c5, …e5, and sometimes returning the knight with …Nd6.
Historical Note
Hurst employed the line repeatedly in 1970s British correspondence events, scoring several miniature wins. The over-the-board debut at master level came in Sax – Romanishin, Luhacovice 1985; Sax’s creative 3.h4!? surprised the Ukrainian GM and yielded a draw after wild complications.
Sample Attack
After 14 moves White had a massive pawn centre, Black’s king remained in the middle and the open h-file guaranteed long-term attacking chances—typical Hurst Attack compensation for structural concessions.
Curiosities
- Because 3.h4!! breaks most opening databases, many online players meet it “out of book” on move three.
- GM Baadur Jobava has dabbled with 3.h4 in blitz, calling it “a humane way to confuse engines.”
- The attack echoes motifs from the Keres Attack vs the Scheveningen (g-pawn thrust) and the Stormy Tromp systems favored by Julian Hodgson in the 1990s.