Chessy
The Van Geet Opening: Myers Attack – A Sharp Surprise with 2.h4
Most club players have never faced 1.Nc3, let alone the immediate flank lunge 2.h4. After 1.Nc3 g6 2.h4 you have already left the database of your opponent's memory. The statistics are encouraging: across over five thousand games White scores a solid 53.7%, despite Stockfish calling the position dead level at -0.14. The secret is that Black's most natural replies are all inaccuracies — and once you know which move to meet them with, you'll be the one pressing for advantage.
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Most of Black's obvious developing moves — 2...Bg7, 2...h5, and 2...Nf6 — are all inaccuracies that lose between half a pawn and six-tenths of a pawn compared to the engine's best reply. Black naturally wants to fianchetto the king's bishop or fight for the h5 square, but those moves miss the critical response. The engine says the ideal reply for Black is 2...d5, immediately staking a claim in the centre. When Black plays anything else, you get a chance to grab space and cramp their position. This is not a subtle positional opening — it's concrete and punishing.
Your Plan After 2...Bg7 (the Most Popular Reply)
By far the most common move is 2...Bg7, appearing in 4,056 games. It looks natural — Black develops the bishop to the long diagonal, preparing to castle. But the engine flags it as an inaccuracy. Your job is to push forward with 3.h5, threatening to open the h-file. The best continuation runs 3...d5 4.hxg6, where you have opened up Black's kingside structure. After 4.hxg6 Black recaptures and you can continue developing with moves like d4 or Nf3, keeping pressure on the centre while Black's king has lost its shield.
What the Statistics Reveal
The raw numbers tell a clear story about which replies you should welcome: - 2...Bg7 (4,056 games): White scores 54.4% — a healthy winning rate. - 2...h5 (414 games): White scores 50.5% — still above average, but you'll need a plan. - 2...Nf6 (225 games): White scores 51.1% — solid, but the engine says Black should have played something else. - 2...b6 (104 games): White scores 53.8% — another attempt to fianchetto that gives you a good result. - 2...d6 (98 games): White scores 56.1% — the highest White win rate among common replies. - 2...d5 (76 games): White scores only 43.4% — this is the engine's best move for Black, so treat it with respect. Your overall odds are excellent: 53.7% wins, 42.5% losses, with only 3.8% draws.
The Engine's Best Continuation and How to Use It
The engine's recommended line begins with Black playing the accurate 2...d5. From there the continuation is 3.h5 d4 4.hxg6. After 4.hxg6, Black can recapture with ...fxg6 or ...hxg6, and you continue developing with natural moves like e3 or Nf3 to contest the centre. The position at depth 16 evaluates as dead level (-0.14), meaning neither side has an edge with perfect play. But remember: most opponents will not play 2...d5. Against the four most popular replies combined (over 4,700 games), White wins 54% — a full eight percentage points above the engine's evaluation would suggest. The Myers Attack is a practical weapon that punishes careless development.
Results across 5,291 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg7 | 4,056 | 54.4% |
| h5 | 414 | 50.5% |
| Nf6 | 225 | 51.1% |
| b6 | 104 | 53.8% |
| d6 | 98 | 56.1% |
| d5 | 76 | 43.4% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Van Geet Opening: Myers Attack?
It starts with 1.Nc3 g6 2.h4. White develops the knight to c3 and immediately pushes the h-pawn two squares, aiming to open lines on the kingside before Black can castle there. It is a sharp, offbeat line that often surprises opponents who expect standard fianchetto setups.
Is 2...Bg7 a mistake for Black?
Stockfish calls 2...Bg7 an inaccuracy that costs Black about 0.6 pawns compared to the best move (2...d5). It is by far the most popular reply, appearing in over 4,000 games, but you should meet it with 3.h5. Black's bishop is well-placed in theory, but here it does nothing to stop you from opening the h-file.
What should I do if Black plays 2...d5?
That is the engine's best response, and it deserves respect. You continue with 3.h5 d4 4.hxg6. After the recapture, the position is dead level at -0.14. Focus on developing your pieces naturally (e3, Nf3) and controlling the centre rather than pushing for an immediate attack.
How does this opening score for White?
Across 5,291 games in the Lichess database, White wins 53.7% of the time, with draws at 3.8% and Black wins at 42.5%. This is an excellent practical score, especially since the engine evaluation is dead level. The surprise factor and Black's tendency to play inaccurate replies give you a real edge.