ECO A00 · Grob Opening

Grob Opening: Keene Defense

1. g4 d5 2. h3 e5 3. Bg2 c6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. e4−0.89

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grob Opening: Keene Defense (A00), reached after 1. g4 d5 2. h3 e5 3. Bg2 c6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e4 for White. Black is clearly better (−0.89).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.894. e4 h5 5. gxh5 Nf6 6. exd5 cxd5 7. d4 exd4 8. Ne2 Nc6
  2. −0.924. Nc3 h5 5. gxh5 Nf6 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Bg5 Rxh5 8. h4 exd4
  3. −0.994. d4 e4 5. Bf4 h5 6. gxh5 Nf6 7. h6 Nh5 8. hxg7 Bxg7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grob Opening: Keene Defense?
After 1. g4 d5 2. h3 e5 3. Bg2 c6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e4 for White, continuing h5 5. gxh5 Nf6 6. exd5 cxd5 7. d4 exd4 8. Ne2 Nc6. Black is clearly better (−0.89). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (−0.92) and 4. d4 (−0.99).
Is the Grob Opening: Keene Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.89: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Grob Opening: Keene Defense?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).