ECO A00 · Grob Opening

Grob Opening: London Defense

1. g4 e5 2. h3 Nc6

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

3. e3−1.16

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Grob Opening: London Defense (A00), reached after 1. g4 e5 2. h3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. e3 for White. Black is clearly better (−1.16).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.163. e3 h5 4. gxh5 Nf6 5. d4 d5 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nf3 Rxh5
  2. −1.203. a3 h5 4. gxh5 Nf6 5. d3 Nxh5 6. Nf3 d5 7. Nc3 Be7
  3. −1.233. d3 h5 4. gxh5 d5 5. Nf3 Rxh5 6. a3 Be7 7. Nc3 Nf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Grob Opening: London Defense?
After 1. g4 e5 2. h3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. e3 for White, continuing h5 4. gxh5 Nf6 5. d4 d5 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nf3 Rxh5. Black is clearly better (−1.16). The next best moves are 3. a3 (−1.20) and 3. d3 (−1.23).
Is the Grob Opening: London Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.16: 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: London 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+).