Lessons From Bischofsgrün: The Fashionable g2-g4

THE move g4, with or without a preparatory h3, is fashionable in modern chess, especially at the elite level.

But is one of those moves often frowned on in instructional books for club players, especially when White plays it after castling kingside.

I reached a position in which g4 was tempting in round five.

Black has just played 15...Nc6-a5 in Spanton (1954) - Rüdiger Schönrock (1884)

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I continued 16.g4!?, which may be the best move - Stockfish17 and Dragon1 fluctuate between it and 16.Qa4.

However, after 16...Bg6 I followed up by badly with 17.Ne5?! Bd6 18.Nxc4?, when 18...Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Ne4 exposed the holes in my kingside, and the engines' suggestion of 18...Nxg4!? seems even stronger.

LESSON: even when g2-g4 is good, despite being played in front of a castled king, White must be ever alert to weak squares left in the pawn's wake.