Chessy
Grob Opening: Spike Attack for White
The Grob Opening: Spike Attack gives you an aggressive-looking start, but in this position you must be ready for a sharp reply. After 1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 c6 3.g5, Black to move has the better of it, so your drill here is about survival and practical defence. The key move to know is the one that keeps Black in control, and the common continuations all show why this line needs care. Use the drill below to learn what happens when the position turns against you early.
Play the Grob Opening: Spike Attack against the engine
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Create a free account →A position that already favours Black
Stockfish rates this -1.10, a clear, lasting advantage for Black. That means you are worse here and need to play accurately if you want to keep the game going. This is not a setup where you can just hope the pawn advance has caused enough trouble on its own. You need to understand that Black has the easier game and that your main job is to meet the reply calmly and avoid falling further behind.
The key reply to know
The engine’s best move here is h6, and that is the move the drill is built around. The suggested continuation is h6 d4 hxg5 Nc3, which shows the kind of pressure Black can create once the kingside pawn structure starts opening. If you are White, this is a good moment to slow down and ask what Black is trying to achieve before making your next decision. The position is tactical enough that small inaccuracies matter.
What the database says
Across 63,095 games at this exact position, White wins 48.5%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 47.6%. Those numbers tell you that the position is not a lost cause in practical play, but the engine still judges Black to be better. The most-played continuations are e5, Bf5, g6, e6, h6, and f6, so this is a well-trodden tabiya where many players reach the same critical fork. That makes it a good drill position: you will see the same ideas again and again.
The mistakes to avoid
Three continuations are marked as inaccuracies here: e5, e6, and f6. In each case, the better move was h6, which tells you how important that central defensive idea is for Black. If you reach this position in your games, do not assume that pushing forward automatically helps you; some natural-looking moves can make your position worse very quickly. This opening punishes casual play, so the practical lesson is to treat every move as a real decision, not a bluff.
Results across 63,095 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 25,120 | 47.3% |
| Bf5 | 12,554 | 49.0% |
| g6 | 8,691 | 48.7% |
| e6 | 5,595 | 51.5% |
| h6 | 5,067 | 46.3% |
| f6 | 2,324 | 52.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grob Opening: Spike Attack good for White?
In this exact position, the engine says no: Stockfish rates it -1.10, which means Black has the better of it. The practical results are mixed, but the computer verdict is clearly against White. If you play it, you need to know the resulting positions well.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is h6. The listed continuation is h6 d4 hxg5 Nc3, which shows why Black can keep the initiative after the early pawn advance. Your drill should focus on recognising that reply quickly.
Which replies do people play most often?
The most-played continuations are e5, Bf5, g6, e6, h6, and f6. Among those, e5 is the most common, followed by Bf5 and g6. It is a useful practical position because you are likely to meet one of these moves often.
Which moves are mistakes in this position?
e5, e6, and f6 are all marked as inaccuracies. In each case, the better move was h6, so Black has a clear improving idea. If you are White, that is another sign that this line needs careful handling rather than automatic play.
How many games feature the Grob Opening: Spike Attack?
Over 63K Lichess games have reached the Grob Opening: Spike Attack position. White wins 48.5%, Black wins 47.6%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.