Spike, Hurst Attack

The Hurst Attack arises after 1. g4 e5 2. Bg2 d5 3. c4, when Black has answered the Grob by occupying the center with two pawns. White does not defend the g-pawn. Instead the c-pawn strikes at d5, aiming to remove or deflect it so that the bishop on g2 can bear down the long diagonal toward b7. This is the second of the standard Grob plans, applied directly against an ...e5 and ...d5 setup. Material is level, but the engine rates the position as clearly better for Black. On Lichess, however, White scores somewhat better than Black.

Black has three main replies. The most popular is 3...c6, which supports d5 and keeps the bishop's diagonal blocked. The second is 3...d4, which advances the pawn to gain space and cramp White's queenside development rather than let it be exchanged. Capturing with 3...dxc4 is less common in practice but is the engine's first choice. It accepts the opening of the diagonal in return for a pawn. The engine also rates 3...d4 and the developing 3...Ne7 highly. The knight move fits the ...Ng6 plan of pressing on the weakened f4 and h4 squares.