The Grob Opening: e6 — A Tricky Start for White

With g4 you've immediately weakened your kingside. Black's 1...e6 leaves the d5 square open and prepares to challenge the centre. After 2.d4 the position is unconventional — you have space on the queenside but your kingside is soft. The engine's favourite reply is 2...c5, which strikes at d4 and forces you to commit your pawns. That may sound scary, but the good news is that Black often doesn't find the best move. In fact, the most popular reply by far is 2...d5 (12,931 games), where your winning chances are still reasonable at 44.3%. This opening rewards opponents who don't know the precise antidote.

If Black plays the strongest move 2...c5, Stockfish suggests continuing with c3 Nc6 Nf3. The idea is simple: meet the attack on d4 by reinforcing it with c3, then develop naturally with Nf3. You're not trying to prove the position is equal — it isn't — but you are aiming for a playable middlegame where Black can still go wrong. By keeping your structure solid and not pushing too far, you give yourself the best practical chance.

The Lichess database of 28,495 games from this position gives a clear picture of what actually happens in club play: White wins 44.5%, draws happen only 4.3%, and Black wins 51.2%. The most-played moves by Black and their White win rates are: d5 (44.3%), c5 (41.6%), b6 (47.7%), Nf6 (45.7%), d6 (46.7%), and c6 (46.7%). Notice the pattern — Black's three most natural-looking moves (b6, Nf6, d6) are all considered inaccuracies that lose you less ground than you'd expect. And b6 actually gives White the highest win rate at 47.7%.

The engine identifies three common Black replies as inaccurate when compared to the best move c5: b6 (loses about 0.9 pawns — you are less worse than before), Nf6 (loses about 0.6 pawns), and d6 (loses about 1.0 pawns — your best-case scenario). If your opponent plays 2...b6, they are preparing to fianchetto on the queenside but have neglected the centre. Against 2...Nf6, they develop a piece but miss the chance to pressure your d-pawn. And 2...d6 is simply too passive. In each case, you can seize the opportunity: keep developing, control d5, and don't rush to push g-pawns. The engine wants c5; if Black plays anything else, you've gained real ground.

The Grob: e6 is not for players who need a solid, equal start every time. It suits you if you enjoy unorthodox positions where your opponent is likelier to make a mistake than you are, and if you don't mind defending slightly worse positions with counterattacking potential. The statistics show Black scores over 51%, so you will lose more often than you win — but when you do win, it's often because your opponent didn't know how to handle the early g4. If that kind of fighting chess appeals to you, this line is worth having in your repertoire.