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Henri Grob
H Grob 
Caissa 1954, p234.  

Number of games in database: 362
Years covered: 1926 to 1967
Overall record: +129 -156 =77 (46.3%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games.

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A00 Uncommon Opening (31 games)
C50 Giuoco Piano (21 games)
A40 Queen's Pawn Game (17 games)
C01 French, Exchange (11 games)
A07 King's Indian Attack (10 games)
C79 Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred (9 games)
B18 Caro-Kann, Classical (7 games)
B01 Scandinavian (6 games)
B13 Caro-Kann, Exchange (6 games)
D37 Queen's Gambit Declined (6 games)


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HENRI GROB
(born Jun-04-1904, died Jul-05-1974, 70 years old) Switzerland

[what is this?]
Henri Grob was born in Braunau, Switzerland. Awarded the IM title in 1950, he was Swiss champion in 1939 and 1951.

Today Grob is best known for popularizing "Grob's Attack", the opening 1. g4. Between 1946 and 1972, Grob played 3,614 correspondence chess games. He won 2,703, lost 430, and drew 481 games. All of the games were played against readers of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, a leading Swiss newspaper.(1,2)

He passed away in Zürich in 1974.

(1) Wikipedia article: Henri Grob
(2) Wikipedia article: Grob's Attack


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 page 1 of 15; games 1-25 of 362  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. D Przepiorka vs H Grob  0-1611926MeranoD63 Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense
2. H Grob vs Tartakower 0-1571926MeranoC40 King's Knight Opening
3. R Calapso vs H Grob  ½-½161926MeranoD00 Queen's Pawn Game
4. H Grob vs Kostic  ½-½521926MeranoB40 Sicilian
5. B Alimonda vs H Grob  0-1491926MeranoD02 Queen's Pawn Game
6. H Grob vs A Sacconi 1-0321926MeranoB02 Alekhine's Defense
7. Colle vs H Grob  1-0621926MeranoD12 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
8. H Grob vs S Rosselli del Turco  0-1151926MeranoC84 Ruy Lopez, Closed
9. Spielmann vs H Grob 1-0421926MeranoB20 Sicilian
10. H Grob vs E Canal  0-1421926MeranoE12 Queen's Indian
11. G Patay vs H Grob  1-0371926MeranoD02 Queen's Pawn Game
12. H Grob vs Gruenfeld ½-½651926MeranoB02 Alekhine's Defense
13. Yates vs H Grob 1-0171926MeranoB45 Sicilian, Taimanov
14. K Ruben vs H Grob  ½-½421927London OlympiadE60 King's Indian Defense
15. H Grob vs A Pokorny 1-0221927London OlympiadC63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense
16. L Palau vs H Grob  1-0321927London OlympiadE16 Queen's Indian
17. H Grob vs M Censer  1-0331927London OlympiadC96 Ruy Lopez, Closed
18. H Grob vs J Mieses  0-1261927London OlympiadB45 Sicilian, Taimanov
19. H Grob vs W Schelfhout  ½-½441927London OlympiadB18 Caro-Kann, Classical
20. L Matibet vs H Grob 1-0261927London OlympiadA45 Queen's Pawn Game
21. H Grob vs A Nimzowitsch  0-1511931Training Match vs GrobB10 Caro-Kann
22. A Nimzowitsch vs H Grob  1-0441931Training Match vs GrobD41 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch
23. W Rivier vs H Grob  1-0361932BernC79 Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred
24. H Grob vs W Henneberger  0-1361932BernC79 Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred
25. Alekhine vs H Grob 1-0501932BernC79 Ruy Lopez, Steinitz Defense Deferred
 page 1 of 15; games 1-25 of 362  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Grob wins | Grob loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 4 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Sep-20-05  PaulLovric: <Bartleby> love your<Favorite quote from selected chess personalities>, but what about: "e4 best by test", by bobby ?
Sep-20-05  JohnnyRhetoric: Hintza, I use the 1. b3?! for one reason. Obviously, I am not trying to categorize b3 as HORRIBLE, but I give it ?! for the reason that white could easily play, 1. Nf3 prior to b3 in order to insure a decent game. After 1. b3?! ..e5! black has squashed white's opening advantage. However, I am NOT implying it by any means refutes b3. Also, I am not implying that because e5 squashes white's opening advantage, it also does NOT mean black is winning. Therefore, I argue, IF white refuses to play 1. Nf3 prior to the b-pawn push, why not play with some vigor and play 1. b4!?

Sep-20-05  Bartleby: <PaulLovric> Thanks for noticing, however I'm not a Bobby Fischer fan and don't consider him quotable. Nearly everything he's said since the 1950s (outside of techichal analysis) is embarrassing to listen to. The opinions of a hick and the mannerisms of a vulgarian wrapped up in a 180 IQ brain. Proof that aptitude at chess promises no other graces in life, unfortunately.

I think Bobby succeeded so well in his career because he was actually a buggy android version of Fritz co-created by Harlan Ellison, Isaac Asminov, and Mikhail Botvinnik. This accounts for his perfect, technically brilliant style of play but maladaptive social skills. Unfortunately, in those days, there was no way to "patch" Bobby Fischer 1.0 in 1975.

My favorite American chess legend is Harry Nelson Pillsbury, who was a superstar in his own right but is somewhat forgotten/overshadowed since his accomplishments happened a century ago. Pity he couldn't be reborn today.

Sep-20-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <I think Bobby succeeded so well in his career because he was actually a buggy android version of Fritz co-created by Harlan Ellison, Isaac Asminov, and Mikhail Botvinnik. This accounts for his perfect, technically brilliant style of play but maladaptive social skills. Unfortunately, in those days, there was no way to "patch" Bobby Fischer 1.0 in 1975.>

This makes as much sense as anything I've heard about Fischer. Like Dr. Frankenstein, Botvinnik must have been horrified by his creation.

Sep-20-05  Monoceros: Harlan Ellison, eh? Well, that accounts for the "mannerisms of a vulgarian" aspect of Fischer.

I like this idea. Someone should write it into a story. :)

Sep-20-05  Greginctw: I dont get it. How can a move be bad at proffessional level and good at amateur level? Its still bad at amateur level. Its not like the grob is a particularly sharp opening that gives you chances but that a grandmaster wouldnt play (such as the blackmar diemer, or icelandic gambit). It simply weakens your kingside and does little towards development and controlling the center. There are a couple of stupid traps that a 1300 would see in a standard game (they may miss them in blitz but there obvious in long time controls). Overall Im not convinced by those who claim that the opening totally doesnt matter below the master level. Im not a good enough player to say why exactly but Im sure it matters from my own experience.
Sep-20-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eric Schiller: <graginctw> Because amatuer players usually have deficient defensive skills, an attack that is unsound at the professional level has a better chance of success in amateur games. That's why amateurs tend to prefer very sharp openings, it is easy to trip up the opponent. I certainly don't think this is the case with the Grob, but an opening such as the Boden-Kiesertisky Gambit brings far more success in amateur games than among the pros, and fits the criteria as an opening that is dubious at professional levels but acceptable, and even recommendable, for use in amateur play.
Sep-20-05  PaulLovric: <<graginctw> Because amatuer players usually have deficient defensive skills, an attack that is unsound at the professional level has a better chance of success in amateur games. That's why amateurs tend to prefer very sharp openings, it is easy to trip up the opponent. I certainly don't think this is the case with the Grob, but an opening such as the Boden-Kiesertisky Gambit brings far more success in amateur games than among the pros, and fits the criteria as an opening that is dubious at professional levels but acceptable, and even recommendable, for use in amateur play.> Exactly
Sep-20-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: Oh heavens <PaulLoveric>, use elipses...
Sep-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eric Schiller: <keypusher> I interviewed Ellison decades ago, and he ripped the mic right out of my machine after making a disparaging remark about Chicago. He told me he was afraid Mayor Daley (the Elder) would send his goons after him. I did manage to air the tape anyway, on WHPK in Chicago. He's a tremendous writer, one of the best, and the interview was great, until he literally broke it off. If Ellison ever wrote a novel with a focus on a chess player, our reputations would be at risk for some time!
Sep-21-05  hintza: <JohnnyRhetoric> So 1.b4 is stronger than 1.b3 now? Never for me.
Oct-15-05  misguidedaggression: <PaulLovric: <<graginctw> Because amatuer players usually have deficient defensive skills, an attack that is unsound at the professional level has a better chance of success in amateur games. That's why amateurs tend to prefer very sharp openings, it is easy to trip up the opponent. I certainly don't think this is the case with the Grob, but an opening such as the Boden-Kiesertisky Gambit brings far more success in amateur games than among the pros, and fits the criteria as an opening that is dubious at professional levels but acceptable, and even recommendable, for use in amateur play.> Exactly><WannaBe: Oh heavens <PaulLoveric>, use elipses...> ROFL!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Oct-17-05  PaulLovric: i don't get it?
Jan-12-06  HoopDreams: The grob is fun to play in blitz games, if you play 1.g4 than you will most likeley know a lot more about it than your opponent, and your opponent wont have a lot of time to think out how to get an advantage off of it.
May-14-06  BIDMONFA: Henri Grob

GROB, Henry
http://www.bidmonfa.com/grob_henry....
_

May-14-06  NohGrobbing: First, to explain my name "NohGrobbing"... I play on a site where one talented "A" player uses this opening to relax and have a bit of fun with the clueless patzers. The very name "Grob" indicates that it will be a silly game. Little known trivia: the Grob played as black is called the "Borg". Actually, I must confess, I sometimes play Henri's favorite opening, badly, exactly like it's intended. I also play the Orangutan, just as badly. Of the two, I prefer the Grob, because it makes for a far better excuse and nobody expects you to win...(ellipsing awayyyy)
May-08-08  parmetd: its practically honor for someone else to make the first move on boards in simul for a simul giver. When the russian president made the opening move for karpov on all boards as g4 he turned to him and said YOU EXPECT ME TO PLAY THAT?

I think thats how the story goes.

Still the player grob himself was obviously one who loved suspect openings like the englund gambit d4 e5. He seems intent on playing ANYTHING that will get him out of a positional slugfest.

Apr-12-09  Dredge Rivers: We are the Grob! Resistance is elituf!
Jul-18-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  playground player: <NohBrobbing> I object! No fair lumping in 1.b4 with the Grob Opening. I play it a lot--it has relieved me of the burden of playing against the French or the Sicilian. It works better than the Grob because it's on the Queenside: you have more space there, and the opening doesn't put your King in jeopardy. I've posted one of my Orangutan games on my forum.
Jul-18-09  Knight13: Grob opening sucks. People who play it plays it to look "cool" and be unique.
Jul-19-09  drukenknight: shows us the refutation then...
Jul-19-09  Hiarcs: <Knight13> I share your opinion, and somehow i sense the same psychology over my opponents when they use it against me, since they often log off [online games at playchess] after they lose, a nice point to try is to let rybka play against the grob, it might show how to dismantle it properly.
Jul-19-09
Premium Chessgames Member
  Chessical: Two very efficient demolitions of the Grob opening:

M Basman vs Miles, 1981
M Basman vs Keene, 1981

Jun-04-10  newzild: Surely his biography should mention Grob's Opening?

A major oversight there. That is by far Grob's biggest claim to fame.

Jun-04-10  whiteshark: <PotD>

More biographical details:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_...

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