Chessy
Grob Opening: Double Grob — play Black confidently
The Double Grob starts with an unusual mirror of flank-pawn activity: 1.g4 g5. That leaves White to move in a position that is sharp in appearance but very balanced in practice. The engine says Black is not worse, and the database backs that up with a mixed set of results. Your job in the drill is simple: meet White’s choices calmly, know the main reply the engine likes, and avoid the common slips that let White take over the game.
Play the Grob Opening: Double Grob against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position really says
Stockfish rates this +0.16, a small edge for White. That means you are dead level here. This is a good moment to stay practical: do not chase tactics that are not there, and do not assume the opening has gone wrong just because the position looks odd. In this line, sensible development and accurate piece play matter more than memorising a long theory tree.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move here is d4, and the suggested continuation is d4 d5 Bg2 Bxg4. For Black, that is a useful guide: answer White’s central move with purpose and be ready to meet active bishop play. The opening can quickly become a normal middlegame if you keep your pieces coordinated and do not drift into passive play.
What the database shows
At this exact position, the Lichess database gives White wins 50.6%, draws 8.8%, Black wins 40.6% across 74,954 games. That means White scores better in practice, even though the engine calls the position balanced. The gap is a reminder that the opening can punish careless Black play, so you should treat every move as a chance to stay in the game rather than to grab the initiative by force.
The most important mistakes to avoid
Two White moves stand out as mistakes in this position. Nf3 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; better was d4. f3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; better was d4. If White chooses one of these slower or awkward setups, Black should be ready to meet the centre with confidence and use the chance to equalise comfortably.
How to handle White’s common choices
The most played continuation is Bg2, with 42,599 games, and White scores 55.6% there. Other common choices are h4, with 5,933 games and White scoring 51.6%, and d4, with 4,378 games and White scoring 57.0%. Nf3 appears in 3,604 games, h3 in 2,985 games, and f3 in 2,348 games. In practical terms, expect White to develop quickly or challenge your kingside space, and keep your own setup flexible so you can respond without panic.
Results across 74,954 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg2 | 42,599 | 55.6% |
| h4 | 5,933 | 51.6% |
| d4 | 4,378 | 57.0% |
| Nf3 | 3,604 | 40.9% |
| h3 | 2,985 | 40.5% |
| f3 | 2,348 | 29.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grob Opening: Double Grob bad for Black?
Not according to the engine here. Stockfish rates the position +0.16, which is a small edge for White, but the page truth is that you are dead level. Black can play this position and stay in the game if the responses are accurate.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move here is d4, with the continuation d4 d5 Bg2 Bxg4. That is the main practical guide on this page, and it shows Black should react actively in the centre rather than just waiting.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most played continuation is Bg2, with 42,599 games. Other common choices are h4, d4, Nf3, h3, and f3, so you should be ready for both quick development and direct kingside ambitions.
Which White moves should I punish?
Nf3 is a mistake and f3 is an inaccuracy in this exact position. Both are worse than d4, so if White chooses them, you should use the extra time to keep your setup active and central.
How many games feature the Grob Opening: Double Grob?
Over 74K Lichess games have reached the Grob Opening: Double Grob position. White wins 50.6%, Black wins 40.6%, with 8.8% draws — based on real rated games.