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Brendan, do you mean 1. h2-h4?
I paid some attention to this week's Titled Tuesday. MC won both the early and late tourneys, playing 1. h4 a few times.
He streamed the late tourney. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIQaqkoaZyk Won a spectacular game vs. Firouzja that went 1. h4 a6.

Weird openings are often played in the Titled Tuesdays. I think Magnus has played 1...a6 in each (of the 11) games before.

Sorry, all of his Black games (either 5 or 6 of the 11).

Yes, my mistake, I meant h2-h4 - I know he played it against Alireza in the game you mention but I think he's also been using it against others.

Here's a crushing Magnus win as Black from Tuesday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEhTCgBvZPg
Game started 1. g3 h5!?

FT 17,572, 1 down
Move within first row threw the French (6)

King side or Queen? 😉

I see Sarin went with a more orthodox d5 defence in response to h4 and still got trounced.

Hi Paul,

Haven't heard from you for a while and was wondering if you've played any tournaments or games lately?

Thanks, Brendan @147. Yes, I am still playing - in fact this last weekend I actually won both my games in Div 3 Knights of the 4NCL for MK Phoenix. I haven't managed that for a very long time. The PGNs should eventually be here: https://www.4ncl.co.uk/replay/2324/otb/div3_knights.htm

I have started badly in my club's championship all-play-all, losing my first two games to the two strongest players (as expected).

My absence from the thread is because you are usually discussing current top tournaments and internet stuff and I haven't the habit of indulging. I play golf three times a week, club bridge once a week and now I am revising for a two-day Scrabble tournament this weekend. As I live with a non-player it wouldn't be fair on her to spend too much additional time in front of a screen.

However, that's not to say that I never look at the posts by you and geeker. I am also a regular on the ECF forum and occasionally post. I started the thread there about chess-related crossword clues. That was a good one about 'CASTLE', for once correctly defining it as a move not a piece.

Brendan,
Have you ever played through this famous game? I'm so familiar with it that I instantly solved the 2 pop quizzes in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8330Smqxds

I posted it on another (Clueless) thread.