Most Shocking Chess Opening Strategy and Tactics

Imagine an opening strategy that turns conventional chess wisdom on its head—this is exactly what one of the greatest pioneers of hypermodernism, Gyula Breyer, does in the game we examine today. Instead of occupying the center with pawns, he invites his opponent to push forward with tempo, giving away both space and time. From the classical perspective, this looks like complete madness. But Breyer has a deeper idea—he accumulates energy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His counterattack unleashes a chaotic storm of tactics.

Euwe vs Breyer, Vienna 1921

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d4 e5 4. dxe5 Nxe5 5. f4 Nc6 6. e5 Ng8 7. Bc4 d6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. O-O Qd7 10. Qe1 O-O-O 11. Ng5 dxe5 12. Kh1 f6 13. Nf7 Na5 14. Nxd8 Nxc4 15. Qe4 Nd6 16. Qb4 Be7 17. fxe5 fxe5 18. Nxb7 Nxb7 19. Rf8+ Bxf8 20. Qxf8+ Qd8 21. Qxg7 Nf6 22. Bg5 Rg8 23. Qh6 Rg6 24. Qh4 Nd6 25. Rf1 Nf5 26. Qxg4 Nxg4 27. Bxd8 Nge3 28. Rf3 Kxd8 29. h3 Rg3 30. Rxg3 Nxg3+ 0-1