The Grob. Bring it back
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The Grob. Bring it back
Anyone like the Grob opening? Found it to be a nice tactical opening with many traps especially against unsuspecting opponants who like to pawn grab. If it gets to tough I bail out in a queenside castle move. Would like to hear from anyone who uses it in classical games and league matches.
Appreciate that when things go wrong, they go badly wrong.
k
Appreciate that when things go wrong, they go badly wrong.
k
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
It doesn't have much going for it except the traps, though, does it? If I just develop naturally, what is your plan?
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
panic. Get tactical. Offer a draw.IM Jack Rudd wrote:It doesn't have much going for it except the traps, though, does it? If I just develop naturally, what is your plan?
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
That’s an improvement on Hou Yifan's, at least.Kevin O'Rourke wrote:panic. Get tactical. Offer a draw.IM Jack Rudd wrote:It doesn't have much going for it except the traps, though, does it? If I just develop naturally, what is your plan?
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
You know rather than "tactical openings", I reckon we'd be well advised to learn how to play dull openings for a win.
"Do you play chess?"
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"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
lostontime.blogspot.com
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
just for variety. normally play the Lopez or Piano
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
Oh I do like people who use the proper names!
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
the Giucoco and the Spannish?
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
"Oh I do like people who use the proper names!"
Me too, but opening nomenclature does vary a lot, especially from country to country. I recall about 50 years ago, the argument about what to call the Pirc/Robatsch/Antal/Kotov/Modern.
I found an interesting TN against the Grob some years ago, for some reason I don't get to use it much. The subject matter is an opportunity to mention that Pete and Aileen Ball used to play 1.g4 all the time, and one opponent had black against both of them one day.
"How did you get on?", enquired a well-wisher.
"I've been Grobbed by the Balls."
Me too, but opening nomenclature does vary a lot, especially from country to country. I recall about 50 years ago, the argument about what to call the Pirc/Robatsch/Antal/Kotov/Modern.
I found an interesting TN against the Grob some years ago, for some reason I don't get to use it much. The subject matter is an opportunity to mention that Pete and Aileen Ball used to play 1.g4 all the time, and one opponent had black against both of them one day.
"How did you get on?", enquired a well-wisher.
"I've been Grobbed by the Balls."
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
I discovered a little while back that what I had thought to be a trap is completely OK.IM Jack Rudd wrote:It doesn't have much going for it except the traps, though, does it?
so is actually OK, the defence line being 5. .. Nf6 6. Qxb7 Nbd7 and Black is fine.
(edit) I should add that's because of a tactic. 7. Bxd5 would be met by 7 .. Rb8. 8 Qc6 is the only square to defend the Bishop, but now comes 8. .. Rc8 pinning the Queen to Rxc1 mate. (/edit)
I even once had this lined up for Basman, who had played 2. Bg2 in the first round, but he played his usual 2. h3.
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
Camberley Chess Club has Prof. Gordon Birch who has played the Grob and the Borg since the 1970s.
I did cause him to fall off his chair when I played the Romford Gambit (Improved).
I did cause him to fall off his chair when I played the Romford Gambit (Improved).
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
I did once coach a player at the European (or World) Schools who played 1 g4 as white and 1...a6 as black every round. It wasn't too big a surprise that I struggled to find games of the opponents in these linesIM Jack Rudd wrote:It doesn't have much going for it except the traps, though, does it? If I just develop naturally, what is your plan?
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
I understand Russ Conway used to play the Piano - though I can't find any of his games on Chessbase.Kevin O'Rourke wrote:just for variety. normally play the Lopez or Piano
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Re: The Grob. Bring it back
There is no reason for anybody not to play the grob still, sure you are unlikely to convince the likes of magnus carlsen to take it up for the amusement of the chess playing public, but that does not mean it is an unplayable opening which can often reach main line theory by transposition.
Lose one queen and it is a disaster, Lose 1000 queens and it is just a statistic.