You mean 11.1% isn't good enough for you?

(Actually, if ever a move gedulterated anyone's game beyond redemption, it must surely be 3. g4?!)

Nakamura vs Bacrot, 2013

There is a nice proverb in Turkish: "Sağ gösterip sol vurmak!" and that means literally: "Fake somebody!"

He originally studied the opening as a surprise weapon, but later adopted it as his constant choice — which, I hinted, rather deprived it of its surprise value.

At one point, we were looking over a game which had ended with g4#.

This inspired a new suggestion: "As you see, g4 is most effective when it *ends* a game.

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that it is least effective when it begins a game, for then it cannot possibly end it. And its likely effectiveness therefore presumably increases on a continuum from first move to last.

Therefore, if you want g4 to be an effective move, the worst thing you can do is begin the game with it."

Unfortunately, for some reason Steve didn't buy this argument, and for all I know, he is still g4-ing away as I write.

Thanks to Steve, I was forced to learn a great deal about the Grob, and I've concluded that it's nowhere near as bad as its reputation. Ugly, to be sure. Compromising to the kingside pawn structure, no doubt. Fishing in troubled waters, to say the least.

Even so, I don't believe it can be refuted. At worst, it allows Black to equalize sooner than he might against d4 or e4. At best, it's largely terra incognita for most opponents, a minefield of pitfalls for the ignorant.

I liked to heckle Steve for his bizarre opening choice, but I can't honestly say it's a *bad* opening choice, and I predict that we'll see it played at the uppermost levels of chess within a quarter-century.

I *may* even live to see it. :-S

The fact is, it's probably possible for White to open with any of his 20 legal moves. Black will equalize rapidly against some of them, but with best play, White should not be actually worse.

"Show right hit left." ;)

A Jungle Game would have danger threatening at every moment from all directions. The pieces would be alive, radiating menace. The loser collapses from the never-ending pressure before being finished off by a hail of javelins penetrating every inch of his position.

You know, maybe a Kasparov game.

This game is more of an marial arts film, Brash Young Warrior against Wise Old Master. The Young Warrior leaps in, fists and feet flying in all directions at once. The Wise Old Master hardly seems to move, impercitibly dodging wild threats while slowly building a solid base for future action. The young fellow begins to slow down and the Master slowly moves his base forward, beginning to dominate the arena. By the end, the BYW is colweing in a corner as the WOM methodically moves in for the kill, having hardly landed a serious blow.

Ah, the voice of omniscience. :-)

It is therefore reasonable to conclude that it is least effective when it begins a game, for then it cannot possibly end it. >