Openings

ECO A09Flank opening

Réti Opening

The centre from a distance

Fianchetto
Hypermodern

White begins with a knight move and strikes at the d5 pawn from the wing with c4, in no hurry to occupy the centre. White controls it from a distance: with bishops on long diagonals and blows at Black's pawns. Black may occupy the centre with pawns, but then those pawns come under pressure. The opening is very flexible and easily transposes into a Queen's Gambit Declined or a Catalan.

Interactive Opening Board

7…Nc6

♚

Black

♔

White

7…Nc6

Speed:

Moves

(14 plies • 7 moves)

7…Nc6Tabiya

The knight adds control of d4 and e5 and blocks the b2 bishop's diagonal.

1–7moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
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6.
7.

1.Nf3 The knight comes out first, and White keeps the choice between d4, c4 and g3.

1…d5 Black occupies the centre with a pawn.

2.c4 The c4 pawn strikes at d5 from the wing. White does not occupy the centre but undermines Black's: the d5 pawn must be exchanged or supported. That is the idea of the Réti.

2…e6 Black reinforces d5 and opens the f8 bishop.

3.g3 White prepares the g2 bishop to press on d5 along the diagonal.

3…Nf6 The knight develops and again strengthens d5 and e4.

4.Bg2 The bishop takes the long diagonal.

4…Be7 Black hurries to castle.

5.O-O The king goes under the protection of the bishop and the g3 pawn.

5…O-O Black castles too: both kings are safe.

6.b3 The b3 pawn prepares a bishop on b2: White plays without d4 and wants the queen's bishop on the diagonal.

6…c5 Black takes the d4 square from White and widens the centre.

7.Bb2 Now both white bishops look into the centre, and the b2 bishop leans on the f6 knight.

7…Nc6 The knight adds control of d4 and e5 and blocks the b2 bishop's diagonal.

Defining move

2.c4 — a flank blow at d5

The move that turns 1.Nf3 into the Réti

The c4 pawn attacks d5, but White is not trying to win it. White wants Black to decide: trade the pawn, support it, or push it to d4, where it can be undermined later. White builds the centre with pieces and wing pawns. This is a hypermodern idea.

Tabiya

Two white bishops on the diagonals

This is the Réti in its most familiar form. White has no centre, but every piece is in place: the g2 bishop eyes d5 and the b2 bishop leans on the f6 knight. White wants to put a pawn on d4 at the right moment or strike with cxd5. Black watches d4 and e5 and looks for the moment to hit back in the centre.

The centre

A flank opening: the centre is controlled by pieces

White has pawns on c4, b3 and g3: support on the wings and an empty centre. Black has pawns on e6 and d5, and c5 has joined them. Everything hinges on the d4 move: if White plays it, the game turns into a queen's gambit or a Catalan structure.

Key squaresd5d4e5

Outposts

d5White's target
The d5 pawn stands under fire from the c4 pawn and the g2 bishop. Black must keep supporting it or trade it off.
g2White's bishop
The g2 bishop commands the long diagonal and presses on the centre from afar. It matters more than any central pawn.

Thematic breaks

d4White
The d2-d4 advance
Take the centre with a pawn when the pieces are developed.
What follows: The game often turns into a Catalan or a queen's gambit.
b4White
The b2-b4 expansion
Win space on the queenside and undermine Black's centre.
What follows: Black may fall behind in development if they dwell too long on the centre.
c5Black
The …c7-c5 strike
Take control of d4 and widen the centre.
What follows: White loses the easy d4 and plays b3 and Bb2.

White’s plan

Press on d5: the g2 bishop and the c4 pawn.
Develop the queen's bishop to b2 or expand on the queenside with b2-b4.
Occupy the centre with d4 at the right moment, or take on d5.

Black’s plan

Lean on the d5 and e6 pawns and solidify the centre.
Win space back with …c5 and take control of d4.
Develop calmly and answer flank play with a blow in the centre.

History

The opening is named after Richard Réti, a Czechoslovak master and theorist of hypermodernism. At the New York tournament of 1924 Réti began with 1.Nf3 and beat the world champion Capablanca. Alekhine also used it in the 1920s.

Notable players

Richard Réti José Raúl Capablanca Alexander Alekhine

Legends who played it

Richard Réti
as White · Named after the player

Games in the Atlas

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