Black responds by taking up central space as well as threatening capture on g4. This is a sound response to 1. g4, as opposed to the more instinctual 1...e5. Although White’s g4 pawn is at risk, they can also just sacrifice it, in return receiving an improvement in their position through development, though Black will still be in a much better position. As a result, 2. Bg2 is commonly played, to which Black most commonly responds 2...c6, protecting the d5-pawn although it it is already protected by Black's queen, or 2...Bxg4, gaining the pawn at the cost of a slight loss of time as well as developing the queenside bishop.

No stats as 1. g4 occurs rarely among serious chess players.

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.g4

• Michael Basman (1989). The Killer Grob. Pergamon chess openings. ISBN 0080371310.
• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.