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There's been a few games going around with the grob played so I thought I'd throw this one in that I played in blitz earlier today
This PGN could not be parsed.
[Event "RHP Blitz rated"] [Site "www.timeforchess.com"] [Date "2012.3.5"] [Round "?"] [White "alfarov"] [Black "VelvetEars"] [Result "0-1"] 1. g2-g4 {The grob, can be very effective in blitz} d7-d5 {I go for a counter gambit trying to exploit White's weakened kingside} 2. Bf1-g2 Bc8xg4 3. c2-c4 {A standard grob opening, now I shake things up by offering my a8 rook} d5xc4 4. Bg2xb7 Nb8-d7 5. Bb7xa8 Qd8xa8 6. f2-f3 {Right now I'm ahead in development but the exchange down, however I'm hoping White's poor pawn structure will come to haunt him as the game goes on} Ng8-f6 {Now I start developing out my pieces} 7. Nb1-c3 e7-e5 8. e2-e4 {Dubious moves, the e4 and f3 pawns now become massive targets for me} Bg4-h5 {A bit passive, the more aggressive alternative is Nc5 threatening Nd3+ and Nxe4 if White gobbles up my bishop} 9. Qd1-e2 {Defending the e4 pawn, as Nxe4 was a viable move otherwise and attacking my c5 pawn} Nd7-b6 {Defending the pawn and trying to get my pieces more active} 10. b2-b3 {Trying to dislodge my pawn and allow d3} Bf8-b4 {Right now I still want to crack open the centre, so try to deal with this knight} 11. Bc1-b2 Bb4xc3 12. Bb2xc3 Nf6-d7 {Possibly a bit negative, but it defends the e5 pawn and allows f5 pushing pressure on White's centre} 13. b3xc4 {Pawns, who need them?} f7-f5 14. d2-d3 {exf5 here is playable for White, but risky} O-O {Adding more pressure to the backwards f3 pawn and White helps me out with...} 15. Ng1-h3 f5xe4 {Threatening Bxf3} 16. Qe2xe4 Qa8-d8 {The last thing I want here is a queen swap, got to push forwards, I chose Qd8 so I can eye up possible Qh4 moves if White's queen moves} 17. Rh1-f1 {Defending the f3 pawn} Nd7-c5 {Now my attack is coming along nicely and I get that warm tingly feeling when I smell blood over the chess board} 18. Qe4-e3 {Now Nd3+ is very nice, but I can't see a clear path after that so instead...} Qd8-h4 {Forcing White's knight backwards, trying to build a coffin for the king} 19. Nh3-f2 Nb6-a4 {Defending my c5 knight and getting a tempo attack on White's bishop} 20. Bc3xe5 {Pawns, who needs them? Note Qxe5 meets with Nd3+} Rf8xf3 {White resigned here (spoilsport) but just to give you an idea of the trouble White is in...} 21. Qd4 Nxd3 22. Kd2 {Avoiding discovered checks from the h5 bishop} Qg5+ 23. Kc2 {Bf4 here is probably the best defence but after 23...Nxf4 my attack's still going strong and White is beginning to run out of pieces to defend with} Nb4 24. Kb1 Bg6 {And mate follows in a few moves} 0-1
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-g4'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-d5'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-g2'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-c4'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-d7'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-f3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-f6'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-c3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-e5'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-e4'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-h5'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-e2'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-b6'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-b3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-b4'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-b2'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-d7'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-f5'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-d3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-h3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-d8'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-f1'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-c5'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-e3'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-h4'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-f2'
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-a4'
- move 1 could not be played: Invalid PGN : Error converting move g2
[Event "RHP Blitz rated"] [Site "www.timeforchess.com"] [Date "2012.3.5"] [Round "?"] [White "alfarov"] [Black "VelvetEars"] [Result "0-1"] 1. g2-g4 {The grob, can be very effective in blitz} d7-d5 {I go for a counter gambit trying to exploit White's weakened kingside} 2. Bf1-g2 Bc8xg4 3. c2-c4 {A standard grob opening, now I shake things up by offering my a8 rook} d5xc4 4. Bg2xb7 Nb8-d7 5. Bb7xa8 Qd8xa8 6. f2-f3 {Right now I'm ahead in development but the exchange down, however I'm hoping White's poor pawn structure will come to haunt him as the game goes on} Ng8-f6 {Now I start developing out my pieces} 7. Nb1-c3 e7-e5 8. e2-e4 {Dubious moves, the e4 and f3 pawns now become massive targets for me} Bg4-h5 {A bit passive, the more aggressive alternative is Nc5 threatening Nd3+ and Nxe4 if White gobbles up my bishop} 9. Qd1-e2 {Defending the e4 pawn, as Nxe4 was a viable move otherwise and attacking my c5 pawn} Nd7-b6 {Defending the pawn and trying to get my pieces more active} 10. b2-b3 {Trying to dislodge my pawn and allow d3} Bf8-b4 {Right now I still want to crack open the centre, so try to deal with this knight} 11. Bc1-b2 Bb4xc3 12. Bb2xc3 Nf6-d7 {Possibly a bit negative, but it defends the e5 pawn and allows f5 pushing pressure on White's centre} 13. b3xc4 {Pawns, who need them?} f7-f5 14. d2-d3 {exf5 here is playable for White, but risky} O-O {Adding more pressure to the backwards f3 pawn and White helps me out with...} 15. Ng1-h3 f5xe4 {Threatening Bxf3} 16. Qe2xe4 Qa8-d8 {The last thing I want here is a queen swap, got to push forwards, I chose Qd8 so I can eye up possible Qh4 moves if White's queen moves} 17. Rh1-f1 {Defending the f3 pawn} Nd7-c5 {Now my attack is coming along nicely and I get that warm tingly feeling when I smell blood over the chess board} 18. Qe4-e3 {Now Nd3+ is very nice, but I can't see a clear path after that so instead...} Qd8-h4 {Forcing White's knight backwards, trying to build a coffin for the king} 19. Nh3-f2 Nb6-a4 {Defending my c5 knight and getting a tempo attack on White's bishop} 20. Bc3xe5 {Pawns, who needs them? Note Qxe5 meets with Nd3+} Rf8xf3 {White resigned here (spoilsport) but just to give you an idea of the trouble White is in...} 21. Qd4 Nxd3 22. Kd2 {Avoiding discovered checks from the h5 bishop} Qg5+ 23. Kc2 {Bf4 here is probably the best defence but after 23...Nxf4 my attack's still going strong and White is beginning to run out of pieces to defend with} Nb4 24. Kb1 Bg6 {And mate follows in a few moves} 0-1
As always feel free to comment on my game with missed moves, sexy alternatives, accusation of using a box (the usual feedback).
I first started playing the rook sac as a response to the grob after seeing a game by the Belgian chess player Henri Winants:
This PGN could not be parsed.
- line 2: Unrecognised token '-c1'
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- move 31 could not be played: Invalid PGN : Error converting move Ra1
{Cuypers,D - Winants,H [A00] Leuven (1), 1994}
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 dxc4 4.Bxb7 Nd7 5.Bxa8 Qxa8 6.f3 Ngf6 7.Nc3 e5 8.h3 Be6 9.e3 Nc5 10.h4 Be7 11.Nh3 Nd3+ 12.Ke2 Nh5 13.Rg1 Bxh3 14.Qa4+ Bd7 15.Qxc4 Nxc1+ 16.Ra1-c1 Bc6 17.Rc1-f1 O-O 18.Qg4 Qb7 19.Qxh5 f5 20.e4 Qa6+ 21.Kd1 Be8 {And White's lost his queen}
1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 dxc4 4.Bxb7 Nd7 5.Bxa8 Qxa8 6.f3 Ngf6 7.Nc3 e5 8.h3 Be6 9.e3 Nc5 10.h4 Be7 11.Nh3 Nd3+ 12.Ke2 Nh5 13.Rg1 Bxh3 14.Qa4+ Bd7 15.Qxc4 Nxc1+ 16.Ra1-c1 Bc6 17.Rc1-f1 O-O 18.Qg4 Qb7 19.Qxh5 f5 20.e4 Qa6+ 21.Kd1 Be8 {And White's lost his queen}
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Originally posted by VelvetEarsI've always played 3...d4 here (Romford gambit) but your move 3 ... dxc4 seems to score even better (although there are few games with either variation). I saw the line in a magazine called Kingpin which I picked up at a congress many years ago
There's been a few games going around with the grob played so I thought I'd throw this one in that I played in blitz earlier today
[pgn]
[Event "RHP Blitz rated"] [Site "www.timeforchess.com"] [Date "2012.3.5"] [Round "?"] [White "alfarov"] [Black "VelvetEars"] [Result "0-1"] 1. g2-g4 {The grob, can be very effective in blitz} d7-d5 {I go for a count 19.Qxh5 f5 20.e4 Qa6+ 21.Kd1 Be8 {And White's lost his queen}
[/pgn]
Hi, VelvetEars.
I have a question about your comment on move 6. You say that white has a poor pawn structure. Is your pawn structure better? I know from what I've read that isolated double pawns are considered bad pawn structure because they are easy to attack. You have those + another isolated pawn. Could you explain it further?
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Originally posted by WanderingKingHi WanderingKing,
Hi, VelvetEars.
I have a question about your comment on move 6. You say that white has a poor pawn structure. Is your pawn structure better? I know from what I've read that isolated double pawns are considered bad pawn structure because they are easy to attack. You have those + another isolated pawn. Could you explain it further?
In terms of defence, I can castle kingside quite comfortably, however White can't really castle kingside or queenside due to the missing g and c pawns, so I can just plan an attack down the centre and he can't really run anywhere. It's true that isolated double pawns are very hard to defend, but since I'm constantly attacking in this game that's not really a problem for me. 🙂
Originally posted by VelvetEarsThanks!
Hi WanderingKing,
In terms of defence, I can castle kingside quite comfortably, however White can't really castle kingside or queenside due to the missing g and c pawns, so I can just plan a attack down the centre and he can't really run anywhere. It's true that isolated double pawns are very hard to defend, but since I'm constantly attacking in this game that's not really a problem for me. 🙂
Originally posted by kingshillI personally prefer 3...dxc4 for the reason it stops White about getting any notions of attacking which is the last thing I want him to do in this game. How did 3...d4 play for you? - I must admit, I've never really considered it as an alternative.
I've always played 3...d4 here (Romford gambit) but your move 3 ... dxc4 seems to score even better (although there are few games with either variation). I saw the line in a magazine called Kingpin which I picked up at a congress many years ago
Originally posted by PacifiqueNothing wrong with almost anything against the Grob. Grob players are happy with a mess where both players are out of book as soon as possible
Nice game and nice annotations. But may I ask whats wrong with 1...e5 with idea to play 2...h5 (after 2.Bg2 or 2.c4)? White should have horrible king side pawn structure then.
Originally posted by VelvetEarsI've only ever played this line in blitz games. One advantage of d4 is it stops the knight getting to it's optimum square c3. Black looks for compensation is the disjointed nature of white's position
I personally prefer 3...dxc4 for the reason it stops White about getting any notions of attacking which is the last thing I want him to do in this game. How did 3...d4 play for you? - I must admit, I've never really considered it as an alternative.
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Originally posted by VelvetEarsHey, this is the line you tried against me! 🙂
There's been a few games going around with the grob played so I thought I'd throw this one in that I played in blitz earlier today
[pgn]
[Event "RHP Blitz rated"] [Site "www.timeforchess.com"] [Date "2012.3.5"] [Round "?"] [White "alfarov"] [Black "VelvetEars"] [Result "0-1"] 1. g2-g4 {The grob, can be very effective in blitz} d7-d5 {I go for a count 19.Qxh5 f5 20.e4 Qa6+ 21.Kd1 Be8 {And White's lost his queen}
[/pgn]
Love the cavalier approach, it is very much like the football chant of "we're going to score one more than you", doesn't matter how much your defence gets destroyed, as long as the opponent's is worse 😀
8. e4 looks as though it was the card holding the deck up that has just been removed. b3 or Qa4 look more viable alternatives for white...