X. h4!

it seems to me like a huge trend in lots of different openings is to just play an early h4, or h5 if you're playing black and feeling saucy.

is this because of people working out long complicated lines with the computer, or realising they can get away with more aggressive opening play with concrete calculation, or something else?

either way it has been making for a lot of fun games. ian nepomniachtchi in particular seems to do this in absolutely any opening.

bumping this thread both because i think it's at least semi interesting AND due to what's happening right now at the world cup!

Classical games or blitz?

both, but it's more interesting that it is being used a lot in classical chess.

3 out of the 8 games going on in the world cup either black or white has just shoved their h pawn up the board really early on. this really does seem the biggest opening trend at the minute, no matter what opening being played!