my issue in my own games is finding the “time” to make luft if i havent already in an opening
i usually dont go out of my way to “just make a luft move- many times the “luft” comes along for the ride as i am addressing something more immediate
but in those games where it seems every move has more priority over a luft move i will get into a late middle game where i send my back rank defenders into an attack and then start looking deeper and realize the precarious nature of my position without the luft; and then lose initiative/momentum having to address it
but i watch many “modern” games and all the players will apply luft when there is time to do so- and they do it properly- where us stragglers might often hurl unnecessary pawn moves in openings to “block pins and get luft” at the expense of more pressing issues
Luft- German for air. Moving a pawn to provide a breathing space for the king to prevent back rank mates, usually near or in the endgame.
When I started reading chess books all the classic books seem to mention it at some point. I don't really follow modern games that much. Is luft still used a lot or has it fallen out of favor?