The Hedgehog is Solid Right? Go g4!!
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Hello chess.commers! The hedgehog system is a system where black puts all his pieces on iconic Sicilian squares against the Maroczy Bind, or any other opening where white trades his d-pawn for black's c-pawn and plays c4. The basic structure is like this.
where black has an extremely solid position. In the above position, find a piece that isn't protected by another piece. You can't! The hedgehog most commonly arises from the maroczy bind variation of the Kan Sicilian, but there are many other ways to reach it.
However, when I was a beginner, I learned that you were supposed to attack the queenside with the maroczy bind. Obviously, being a beginner, I attacked the king. Thus began my own repertoire with g4 against the hedgehog. Here is one recent game where I played using my personal g4 system.
The game above was my best performance with g4 against the hedgehog, and although I didn't play my best, you saw that black was losing right after I played g4!! It is an extremely deadly weapon. I don't have any analysis saved. Also, there are 3 other reasons why g4 is such a good move and why I am extremely surprised no one plays it.
1. It Keeps Kingside Attack Flavour
When white plays the main line against black's Sicilian, white will want to attack the kingside. In a maroczy bind, however, white can still attack on the kingside, though the queenside is more favourable. The reason why g4 is so deadly is because hedgehog players aren't used to people attacking their kingside. g4 is what white plays in the Najdorf, Dragon and Scheveningen, the main lines in the Sicilian. Although white has castled kingside, that doesn't mean that he can't attack.
This game shows how white is solid and can attack the kingside, which brings me to my next point.
2. White is Completely Safe
Despite white pushing his own pawns above his king, the hedgehog offers black no kingside counterplay. White's kingside is just way too strong and the hedgehog offers black little space and time to compensate for the attack. Also, white's queenside is a slight weakness, with c5 and e4 being weak points white will need to defend. Nevertheless, white will overcompensate with his raging attack with g4. The games above explain it all, feel free to analyse my games 
.
3. g4 is NOT a Bad Move
The most important reason by far. g4 is an ambitious move, but most risky moves have a bad computer evaluation. g4 is definitely not the case. It is a strong move with almost no drawback. It could be a move only suited for my style, but it is a move without much risk. The hedgehog is known for its amazing stability and drawish tendency, but g4 puts black in a position to prove himself.
Unless black protects himself first...
Playing g4 is a good move, maybe next time you play against the hedgehog in a maroczy bind, go for the king like you did when you were a beginner!!
Thanks for Reading!
CM Chessdemon2019
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