Ponderchess / Openings
Play the guided film, or select a scene to pause and study its position.
Opening
The Grob Opening in 3D
1.g4. An offbeat flank move that prepares Bg2 against b7 and the queenside, at the cost of a lasting weakness on White's kingside.
Rebuild the sequence yourself. The board responds to each move, and hints are available.
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Grob Opening: Keene Defense, Main Line, move by move: g4 d5 h3 e5 Bg2 c6 d4 e4 …
The white pieces
Use the g2 bishop and c4 against b7 and d5, support the g-pawn with h3, and avoid further kingside weaknesses such as an early f3 or f4.
The black pieces
Take the centre with ...d5 and ...e5, blunt the bishop with ...c6, and attack the g4 pawn with ...h5 when it helps to open lines toward White's king.
Look a little deeper · 01
After 1...d5 2.Bg2 (the Grob Gambit) White offers the g4 pawn. If Black takes with 2...Bxg4, 3.c4 (the Fritz Gambit) hits d5 and opens the long diagonal toward b7.
Look a little deeper · 02
The Romford Countergambit (3...d4 4.Bxb7 Nd7 5.Bxa8 Qxa8) gives up a rook for the bishop so that Black's queen takes over the long diagonal, aiming at h1 and the weakened kingside.
Look a little deeper · 03
Solid replies take the sting out of the opening. 2...c6 (the Grob Gambit Declined) blunts the bishop, and ...e5 builds a big centre while ...h5 can attack the g4 pawn.
Grob Opening: Keene Defense, Main Line, move by move: g4 d5 h3 e5 Bg2 c6 d4 e4 …
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
