Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, London Defensive System
Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, London Defensive System is a chess opening with the ECO code A12, part of the Réti Opening family. It goes 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. b3 Bf5 5. Bg2. White opens with 1. c4 (the English move) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 9 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. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
1... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
2. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3
2... c6 – Black plays the pawn to c6
3. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
3... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
4. b3 – White plays the pawn to b3
4... Bf5 – Black plays the bishop to f5
5. Bg2 – White plays the bishop to g2
In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 5... e6.
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