Reti Opening Guide

The Reti Opening is a chess opening for white that starts with the move 1.Nf3.

Usually, white will want to play d4 and c4 to continue with a traditional Reti, or can play other moves to transpose to different openings. That is one of the main benefits of playing the Reti Opening - the flexibility.

Games are usually positional and with lots of strategic maneuvers.

This opening is names after Richard Reti, a Czechoslovakian of the early 1900s who invented the opening.

Main Ideas in the Reti Opening

The Reti Opening is a hypermodern opening, which means that white will not try to occupy and dominate the center at first, but will try to win it back later by attacking it with pawns and minor pieces.

The Reti Opening might transpose to a different opening easily if certain key moves are not played, which is a plus for the player with white, who can keep their options open until the very last moment.

Typical Plans for White

White's strategy in the Reti Opening often revolves around controlling the center from a distance and keeping Black guessing. Here are some typical plans:

• Fianchetto the Kingside Bishop: After 1. Nf3, White can continue with g3 and Bg2, fianchettoing the bishop. This setup aims to exert long-term pressure on the center and the queenside.
• Delayed Central Pawn Push: White can hold off on d4 or c4, choosing to push these pawns only when it is most advantageous. This delay keeps Black in the dark regarding White's true intentions.
• Flexibility in the Center: The Reti can transpose into other openings, such as the English Opening (1. c4) or the King's Indian Attack (with d3 and e4). This flexibility is one of the Reti's greatest strengths, allowing White to adapt based on Black's responses.

Key Position: 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4

This position can lead to a reversed Queen's Gambit, where White is playing a more nuanced and strategic game.

Common Responses by Black

Black has several ways to counter the Reti Opening, each leading to different types of positions:

• 1...d5: The most common response, aiming for direct control of the center. Black may seek to transpose into a Queen's Gambit Declined or other classical systems.
• 1...c5: By playing c5, Black might steer the game into a Sicilian-like structure or invite a direct transition into the English Opening.
• 1...Nf6: This move maintains flexibility, often leading to Indian Game setups where both sides have a wide range of options.

A Classic Example: Reti vs. Capablanca, New York 1924

One of the most famous games played with the Reti Opening was between Richard Réti and José Raúl Capablanca in New York, 1924. This game demonstrated the power of hypermodern principles, where Réti allowed Capablanca to build a classical pawn center, only to undermine it with precise and strategic piece play.

In this game, Réti's deep understanding of positional play and his use of the fianchetto setup demonstrated the strength of the Reti Opening against one of the world's best players at the time.

Model Games

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A04 Sub-variants:

• Reti opening
  1. Nf3
• Reti v Dutch
  1. Nf3 f5
• Reti, Pirc-Lisitsin gambit
  1. Nf3 f5 2. e4
• Reti, Lisitsin gambit deferred
  1. Nf3 f5 2. d3 Nf6 3. e4
• Reti opening
  1. Nf3 d6
• Reti, Wade defence
  1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Bg4
• Reti, Herrstroem gambit
  1. Nf3 g5