Go back
Grob

Grob

Only Chess

2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

There were a few threads discussing it back in 2007... but none that I could find recently. Apologies if I'm retreading old ground.

So most of you better folk out there will be familiar with this, but as studying openings is a new past time for me, I only came across this recently.
For those who are as clueless as I was a month ago,see a typical grob opening below:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h
1.g4e5
2.Bf1g2d5
3.c4c6
4.Qb3

0


      The main question I have is "Is it sound?" It worked against me, and then it worked for me, but in all of those games I felt it was because I was unfamiliar with such an unorthodox opening. Does anyone use this opening for preference, or is it just a party piece to pull on unsuspecting opponents OTB?

      Vote Up
      Vote Down

      Originally posted by morgski
      There were a few threads discussing it back in 2007... but none that I could find recently. Apologies if I'm retreading old ground.

      So most of you better folk out there will be familiar with this, but as studying openings is a new past time for me, I only came across this recently.
      For those who are as clueless as I was a month ago,see a typical grob o ...[text shortened]... is opening for preference, or is it just a party piece to pull on unsuspecting opponents OTB?
      Here is how you handle the Grob!

      Game 5366130


      A quick quip and not addressing anything really Morgan but I remember the former President CCCP, Gorbachev, playing a 'demonstration game' with Kasparov circa early 90's. Gorbachev offered 1.g4 and Kasparov was visibly seen to offer him the chance to play a 'better move'..he didn't and Kasparov said, 'so, I'm forced to play this game out then'...smiling naturally 😉 ALSO, Karpov v Susan Polgar, the date the same, another demonstration with Gorbchev present but the moves are unrecorded. It's unsound Morgan, at club level perhaps a 'surprise' move but no doubt someone will quote GM games that I'm unaware of lol...Why play 1.g4 when you have far more solid initial moves ?? 1. e4, 1. d4, 1. c4, 1. Nf3, 1. b3 ??

      Vote Up
      Vote Down

      a few years ago korch analyzed it in some thread, and as far as I remember came to the conclusion that it was quite okay. shouldn't be that hard to find cross referencing korch & grob.

      Vote Up
      Vote Down

      Originally posted by tomtom232
      Here is how you handle the Grob!

      Game 5366130
      Nice. Thanks.

      Vote Up
      Vote Down

      Originally posted by tomtom232
      Here is how you handle the Grob!

      Game 5366130
      This was the game when someone Grobbed me (I think I put it in another thread a while ago)

      Game 8618185

      And the one I did to someone else. A shame, because there was an early blunder, but the endgame is nice...

      • 8
      • a
      • 7
      • b
      • 6
      • c
      • 5
      • d
      • 4
      • e
      • 3
      • f
      • 2
      • g
      • 1
      • h
      1.g4d5
      2.Bf1g2Bc8xg4
      3.c4c6
      4.cxd5cxd5
      5.Qd1b3Qd8c7
      6.Nb1c3e6
      7.Qb3a4Nb8c6
      8.Qa4xg4a6
      9.a3g6
      10.Ng1f3Bf8g7
      11.Qg4a4Ng8e7
      12.d4O-O
      13.e3Ne7f5
      14.Rh1g1Rf8e8
      15.Bc1d2Ra8d8
      16.O-O-Oe5
      17.dxe5Nc6xe5
      18.Nf3xe5Bg7xe5
      19.Kc1b1Be5xh2
      20.Nc3xd5Qc7e5
      21.Bd2c3Qe5e6
      22.Nd5f6Kg8f8
      23.Nf6xh7Kf8e7
      24.Bc3f6

      0

          Vote Up
          Vote Down

          The only other time I've used it was OTB, which resulted in a King + Bishop + Knight vs. King endgame. We weren't sure if it was possible, and it took me 42 half moves after the last pawn went to get the checkmate. I would provide the pgn, but floating Chess sets in swimming pools don't come with a notebook 🙂

          2 edits
          Vote Up
          Vote Down

          Originally posted by morgski
          This was the game when someone Grobbed me (I think I put it in another thread a while ago)

          Game 8618185

          And the one I did to someone else. A shame, because there was an early blunder, but the endgame is nice...

          [pgn][Event "Challenge"] [Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"] [Date "2011.10.12"] [EndDate "2011.10.13"] [Round "?"] [White "morgski"] [ f6 Kg8f8 23. Nf6xh7 Kf8e7 24. Bc3f6 {and the queen is lost} 1-0[/pgn]
          I think white missed a win in the first one

          44.Ke4 seems to do the trick.

          and

          46.Kd5 not 46.d5??

          Vote Up
          Vote Down

          Originally posted by tomtom232
          I think white missed a win in the first one

          44.Ke4! seems to do the trick.
          I think both of us missed several chances in that game, I was happy at the time because it was my first draw against a 2000+ person, but looking back it was a bit of a comedy of errors

          2 edits
          Vote Up
          Vote Down

          Originally posted by morgski
          I think both of us missed several chances in that game, I was happy at the time because it was my first draw against a 2000+ person, but looking back it was a bit of a comedy of errors
          It just seems odd that I 2100(almost) player can't even win a simple king and pawn vs king endgame that is clearly an easy win.

          Edit: I'm never happy drawing a game that I could and should have won... both of you should have been unhappy at the end of that game.... like how I was unhappy at the end of our game. Nice comeback by you though.

          1 edit
          Vote Up
          Vote Down

          I was accused of being a hustler yesterday after I used the Grob to win the lowest section of a weekend chess tournament.

          Thankfully the arbiters had done their background research, which confirmed that I'm normally genuinely rubbish OTB.

          • 8
          • a
          • 7
          • b
          • 6
          • c
          • 5
          • d
          • 4
          • e
          • 3
          • f
          • 2
          • g
          • 1
          • h
          1.g4d5
          2.Bg2Bxg4
          3.c4c6
          4.cxd5Bd7
          5.Qb3Qc7
          6.Nc3Nf6
          7.d3g6
          8.Bg5Bg7
          9.Bh4O-O
          10.Bg3Qc8
          11.h4h5
          12.Nh3Na6
          13.Nf4Nc7
          14.dxc6Bxc6
          15.Bxc6bxc6
          16.Nxg6Re8
          17.Ne5Ne6
          18.Nc4Nd4
          19.Qd1c5
          20.e3Ne6
          21.Be5Qb7
          22.Rg1Kf8
          23.Bxf6exf6
          24.Qxh5Rad8
          25.O-O-ORb8
          26.Rd2Rbd8
          27.f3Ke7
          28.e4Rh8
          29.Nd5Kf8
          30.Qg4Qa6
          31.a3Qa4
          32.f4Rg8
          33.Qd1Qb5
          34.f5Nd4
          35.Rdg2Bh6
          36.Kb1Rxg2
          37.Rxg2Ke8
          38.Nc7

          0


              I play the Grob on here more often than not and I don't do any worse than with any other opening. It's a interesting thing to experiment with. You never can tell whether you're going to get a tactical melee or a strategic grind, and it forces you to concentrate either way. That said, as the good Reverend points out above, it's probably not something you want to be employing at the higher levels unless your name happens to be Michael Basman.

              (now who's got a link to that Basman-Nunn game?)

              Vote Up
              Vote Down

              Originally posted by hunterknox
              I was accused of being a hustler yesterday after I used the Grob to win the lowest section of a weekend chess tournament.

              Thankfully the arbiters had done their background research, which confirmed that I'm normally genuinely rubbish OTB.

              [pgn][Date "2011.10.23"] [White "hunterknox"] [Black "slanderer"] [Result "1-0"] 1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 c ...[text shortened]... happens to be Michael Basman.

              (now who's got a link to that Basman-Nunn game?)
              Brilliant, IM Michael Basman, the absolutely Master of the 'oddity'...and and and, do you realise I offered The Grob against your good self back on '07 🙂
              I'll post the Basman v Nunne game below...

              2 edits
              Vote Up
              Vote Down

              IM Michael Basman v GM John Nunne Oxford, 1978. The Grob, A00

              • 8
              • a
              • 7
              • b
              • 6
              • c
              • 5
              • d
              • 4
              • e
              • 3
              • f
              • 2
              • g
              • 1
              • h
              1.g4d5
              2.h3e5
              3.d3Bd6
              4.c4c6
              5.Nc3Ne7
              6.Nf3h5
              7.gxh5Rxh5
              8.Bd2a6
              9.e4dxe4
              10.dxe4Nd7
              11.Ng5Nf6
              12.Qf3Ng6
              13.O-O-OQe7
              14.Kb1Nf4
              15.Rg1Kf8
              16.Ne2Ne6
              17.Nxe6Bxe6
              18.Ng3Rh8
              19.Bg5Rd8
              20.Be2Rxh3
              21.Qg2Bc7
              22.Nh5Rxd1
              23.Rxd1Rxh5
              24.Bxh5Qb4
              25.Be2Bxc4
              26.Bxc4Qxc4
              27.Bxf6gxf6
              28.Qg4Qe6
              29.Qxe6fxe6
              30.Rd7

              0


                  Of Note: Basman doesn't develop his white Bishop until 20.Be2 ..I still find that amazing !

                  Vote Up
                  Vote Down

                  Originally posted by RevRSleeker
                  ...do you realise I offered The Grob against your good self back on '07 🙂
                  Remember it? I'm still reeling at being out Grobed! Game 3152449

                  Cheers for posting the Basman - Nunn game. Never gets old that one. I might have to dig out "the Killer Grob" and go fishing for some more classics...

                  Vote Up
                  Vote Down

                  Read this post the other day , and whilst in my local chess book store , noticed a little book in the second hand section .. Tactical Grob , Claude Goodblood , a bargain at £6 ( original copy ) , I think i may attempt my first Grob soon once i have time to play with the pieces on the board - the book looks quite enlightening

                  Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.