Réti Opening
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 · A04–A09
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
Pressure on d5 instead of immediate occupation
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
The idea
White develops the knight first and attacks d5 from the flank with c4 and a fianchetto — flexible, positional and very hard to prepare against.
Main line: 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 c5
What White wants
- Attack d5 with c4 and central piece pressure
- Keep the centre fluid and transpose into a Catalan or English when it suits
- Develop the fianchetto bishop and choose a central break deliberately
What Black wants
- Hold d5 with ...c6 or ...e6 and develop solidly
- Take on c4 and hold the extra pawn only if it can be defended
- Claim the centre with ...c5 or ...e5 at the right moment
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Pressure on d5 instead of immediate occupation
The c4 pawn attacks d5, while the g2 bishop develops for future pressure on the long diagonal. Its route through f3 and e4 reaches d5 only after the f3 knight moves. White decides when to add d4 or e4 according to Black's setup, coordinating pawn breaks with development.
Common mistake
Treating a later d4 as a mistake merely because the opening began with Nf3. It can transpose into a sound Queen's Gambit or Catalan; choose the structure on purpose, and calculate how to recover c4 if Black accepts the pawn.
Mistake example: a6.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
rnbq1rk1/pp2bppp/4pn2/2pp4/2P5/1P3NP1/P2PPPBP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 7
Analyze this positionVariations
2 lines branching from here.