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From	Message
antinephilehi 22-Jun-08, 12:00	The Groob Sometimes it happens I play against an optimist starting with g2-g4. What do you all consider be the best answer?
buddyrevell 22-Jun-08, 17:41	1...d5 Hi! I think 1..d5 is the most logical continuation: Black freely occupies the center and at the same time attacks the pawn on g4. White will then have to decide between protecting that pawn or sacrificing it. Interesting to notice that White has no way to protect that pawn by developing a piece (h3 will have to be played), which shows one of the drawbacks of the Grob. ------------------------------------- On Chessbase Magazine 122, a trap in the Grob is presented by Rainer Knaak in his "Opening Traps" column: 1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 e6?? Qa4+ The correct move was 5...Nf6. Knaak believes that most people playing 1.g4 expect to catch opponents with that trap. According to him, the proof of his thesis is the move 2.Bg2, which is the most frequently played despite being weaker (2.h3 would be better). ------------------------------------- Another interesting reply against the Grob that I found, albeit far less common, is 1...e5, followed by 2...h5, which could lead to something like this: 1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 h5 3.gxh5 Qg5 If you or anyone else want more specific lines, let me know. I have some reference material here. =)
owenss1 30-Jun-08, 08:34	Taking the pawn at g4 on the second move is dubious at best. Far more sensible is 2...c6 followed by 3...e5, when it is White who is struggling to equalise.

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