Réti Opening

Réti Opening is a chess opening with the ECO code A09. It goes 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4. White opens with 1. Nf3 (the Zukertort/Réti knight move) and Black answers 1... d5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

1. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
1... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... d4, 2... dxc4, 2... c6.

About the Réti Opening

White plays 1.Nf3 and c4, attacking the centre from the side instead of occupying it. It is a modern, flexible approach.

White fianchettoes with g3 and Bg2, sometimes on both sides with b3 and Bb2.
The c4 pawn pressures d5; White may take with cxd5 to open the c-file.
If Black pushes ...d4, White attacks it with e3 or b4.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Réti Opening course lesson.

Related openings

It extends: Zukertort Opening (1. Nf3 d5)
Continues with: Réti Opening: Advance Variation – adds 2... d4
Continues with: Réti Opening: Réti Accepted – adds 2... dxc4
Continues with: Réti Opening: Zilbermints Gambit – adds 2... b5
Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Bogoljubow Variation – adds 2... c6 3. b3
Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation – adds 2... c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2
Continues with: Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Stonewall Line – adds 2... e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2
Related line: Réti Opening: Advance Variation (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4)
Related line: Réti Opening: Advance Variation, Michel Gambit (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5)
Related line: Réti Opening: Advance Variation, Navara Gambit (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5)
Related line: Réti Opening: Penguin Variation (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. Rg1)
Related line: Réti Opening: Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 c5 4. b4)
Related line: Réti Opening: Réti Accepted (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses