I agree with the GMs.
Whereas many common lines are in the progress of being boiled down to drawish endgame positions with the aid of computers, playing g4 at some point during the opening unbalances the position immediately and announces White's ambition to attack Black's kingside. Also, many players do not expect to see the move g4 early in the game. I believe it's an effective way to utilize the advantage of the first move, as long as you're prepared to deal with the outcome.
Krush just played 14. g4 in her 5th round game against Hess. Bold!
Krush just played 14. g4 in her 5th round game against Hess. Bold!
It looks like her only play, zankfrappa.
If they really wanted to be daring they would play 2 Ke2!
Hess played 17. g4 against Akobian in Round 7 just moments ago.
I thought the general rule was not to move the pawns in front of the king when
both are castled on the same side.
Is this a Rybka move?
Nawh. The whole point is to take the game out of lines that the opponent had previously Rybka analyzed :).
I have not been following the games you are speaking of but whenver I see g4 played "for positional reasons" in a slav or KID as White, I just love it-I feel like there is much I have to learn still when I see it (and there certainly is) LOL.
How come I never see anyone play Barne's or Gedult's Opening? That I would love to see.
g4 is used in a lot of openings, even main lines, or at least book lines. Are you talking about a very early g4 or something?
White can often get away with g4 (often a useful space gainer) IF he has the initiative or of course if his king has a safe spot on the queenside or in the center. Still, you have to be careful playing moves like this because the position can fall apart sometimes if moves like g4 are premature, incorrect, or followed up badly. When you play this kind of move always make sure the opponent can't counter in the center or take advantage of the holes you're creating.
I like to play g4 as white in the yugoslav attack sicilian dragon. It keeps that pesky knight from going to h5
I'm trying to generalize a move like g4 as best I can, but it very highly depends on the position. Sometimes it's really good, other times it's abysmal.
For some reason I find it interesting to talk about when vague ideas like f4, ...Nh5, or g4 here are good and bad. I don't know why.
"knock your opponent out of his books"....Bobby Fischer circa 1958. Just thinking outloud here......I remember oct.1974 the famous "Rumble in the jungle" Ali vs Foreman, for the world heavyweight boxing championship, In Zaire. Ali came out in the first round and led with his right several times!!! Foreman was completly stunned by those unorthodox opening moves. (usually one shouldn't lead with the right if he's righthanded)...The entire tempo of the fight started going Ali's way...perhaps i digress, but the comparison to an unorthodox opening plan had to be mentioned...Just thinking outloud...
orangehonda,
The reason I brought up this question was because Shahade and Ashley spent
quite a bit of time talking about how this was a "trendy" move and that it had
been played several times in the U.S. Championships. As far as when the move was played it seemed thet were speaking of the early middlegame, after the
opening moves and development were done.
The only reason I find the move unusual is they thought it was unusual.
How bout the Grob? 1.g4, huh? That'll take 'em out of their opening prep. Booyah!
There are whole opening systems that involve an early push by White to g4. Sicilian Defense, Scheveningen variation, Keres attack is one.
There's a system in the King's Indian where White holds back on developing the N on f1 and instead plays an early Be2 and then follows up with an early g4. This idea dates back to the 1920s, and the game H Price vs Vera Menchik 1929 is a good example. Price had her crushed, but misplayed his attack and ended up botching the game. Come to think of it, I'll annotate that one soon.
The point is that an early g4 is nothing new. It just comes in and out of fashion.
g4 is not a great opening. But it can throw your opponent out of comfort in blitz games. There are traps in g4 opening. Do not underestimate them. As a black, if you haven't prepared for g4, it may be difficult for you in blitz when someone opens.
But opening with g4 in standard game or turn-based game is not so advisible, as the move is inferior to other openings
During Round 1 Shahade and Ashley mentioned that g4 is the new "hip and
trendy" move. In fact, I believe there were at least 3 games in which it was
played. They said white is willing to play the move anytime at all.
Why is this such a hot trend? What is so great about g4 as a move? If
white has castled kingside isn't g4 too risky a move?