Chess Openings Lab
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Grob Opening: Spike, Hurst Attack

The Spike, Hurst Attack is 1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.c4, where White hits Black's big e5 and d5 center from the side. Black can take on c4, push ...d4 for space, or develop with ...Ne7, while White wants to weaken d5 and use the long diagonal.

Moves
1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.c4
ECO
A00
Engine
−1.35 · a clear edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,014 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 3...dxc4 4.Nc3, use Qa4+ to win back the c4 pawn, as the top engine line shows.
  • cxd5 opens the long diagonal for the g2 bishop and targets b7.
  • Develop with Nc3 and Nf3 to pressure e5 and d5.
  • Avoid more kingside pawn moves; your king needs shelter.

Black

  • 3...dxc4 grabs the pawn; then ...Ne7 and ...Nbc6 develop before White wins it back.
  • 3...d4 grabs space and blocks the long diagonal; then ...h5 attacks the g4 pawn.
  • 3...Ne7 supports d5 so you can recapture with a piece after cxd5.
  • Use your extra central pawns to restrict White's knights.

Plans and pawn structure

Black has a big center and White has an early g4 weakness. White's plan is to attack d5 with c4 and use the g2 bishop on the long diagonal. Black's plan is to keep a strong center, attack the g4 pawn with ...h5 and develop with ...Ne7 and ...Ng6. If Black pushes ...d4, the long diagonal closes and White has to find play with d3 and Nd2. The engine favors Black clearly.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −1.35: a clear edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −1.35 3...dxc4 4.Nc3 Ne7 5.Qa4+ Nbc6 6.Nf3
  2. −1.22 3...d4 4.d3 h5 5.g5 Ne7 6.Nd2
  3. −0.92 3...Ne7 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Be6 6.d3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,014 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.3%.

under 120048.1%
1200–159956.5%
1600–199953.2%
2000 and up59.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, take with 3...dxc4 or push 3...d4. Develop with ...Ne7 and ...Nbc6, and use ...h5 against g4. Avoid letting White take on d5 and open the long diagonal while b7 is weak.

Questions

What are the moves of the Grob Opening: Spike, Hurst Attack?

The Grob Opening: Spike, Hurst Attack starts 1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.c4. Its ECO code is A00.

Is the Grob Opening: Spike, Hurst Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −1.35 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for Black. In 1,014 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.3%. A provocative line for White players who like chaos, but Black has a clear edge with simple central play.

What is the main idea of the Grob Opening: Spike, Hurst Attack?

White attacks Black's central pawns with c4 to free the g2 bishop. Black either takes the pawn or pushes ...d4 and keeps a big center and better game.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxc4, with d4 and Ne7 close behind. 3...dxc4 grabs the pawn and leaves White to spend time winning it back.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.