What is Hypermodernism?

Hypermodernism is a school of chess thought that emerged in the 1920s, challenging the classical emphasis on direct central pawn occupation. Hypermodernists—led by Richard Réti, Aron Nimzowitsch, and Gyula Breyer—advocated controlling the centre with pieces from the flanks, allowing the opponent to build a pawn centre and then undermining it. Nimzowitsch's books My System (1925) and Chess Praxis (1929) are the foundational texts. The Réti Opening, English Opening, and Indian Defences are hypermodern in character.