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| Moves | 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ECO | A04–A09 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Réti–Rubinstein,Karlovy Vary, 1923 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Richard Réti | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Zukertort Opening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonyms |
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TheRéti Opening is achess opening whose "traditional" or "classic method" begins with the moves:[1]
White attacks Black's pawn from theflank. If Black defends the pawn with 2...c6 or 2...e6, this transposes to theEnglish Opening. Thus, the two main independent lines of the Réti begin with either Black pushing by with 2...d4, keeping the game closed, or capturing with 2...dxc4, opening the game. The former line resembles aBenoni Defense with the colors reversed. Similarly to Black in the Benoni, White usuallyfianchettoes the kingside bishop.
The opening is named afterCzechoslovak chess playerRichard Réti (1889–1929). It is considered ahypermodern opening due to White's avoidance of direct occupation of the center with pawns, unlike most openings. Réti championed the hypermodernism movement, which advocated the center being dominated from the wings rather than by direct occupation, and the opening reflects his style. White oftenfianchettoes both bishops, castles kingside, and avoids playing e4 and d4, instead expanding on the queenside, frequently playing b4. The result of this may be described as theRéti System.[1]
In theEncyclopaedia of Chess Openings, the opening is found in codes A04–A09, where it is closely associated with theKing's Indian Attack.[2] The opening was employed byGukesh Dommaraju in the eleventh game of theWorld Chess Championship 2024 againstDing Liren, resulting in a win for Gukesh.
According to Réti, the opening was introduced into master play in the early part of 1923.[3] Réti used the opening most famously to defeatJosé Raúl Capablanca, the reigningWorld Chess Champion, in a game at the1924 New York tournament.[4]Alexander Alekhine played the Réti in the 1920s, but at that time almost any game that began with Nf3 and c4 by White was considered to be the Réti. Réti popularized these moves against all defenses in the spirit ofhypermodernism, and as the opening developed it gained structure and a clearer distinction between it and other openings.
Hans Kmoch called the system of attack employed by Réti in the game Réti–Rubinstein,Karlovy Vary 1923,[5] the "Réti Opening" or the "Réti System".Savielly Tartakower called the opening the "Réti–Zukertort Opening", and said of 1.Nf3: "An opening of the past, which became, towards 1923, the opening of the future."[6]
In modern times the Réti refers only to the configuration Nf3 and c4 by White with ...d5 by Black, where Whitefianchettos at least one bishop and does not play an early d4.[7]
After 2.c4 (ECO code A09), Black's choices are:
If Black takes the pawn, then in the same manner as theQGA, 3.e3 or 3.e4 regains the pawn with a slight advantage to White, as Black is left somewhatundeveloped. 3.Na3 and 3.Qa4+ are also good, and commonly played. This variety of White options limits the popularity of 2...dxc4. Trying to protect the pawn with 3...b5?! allows 4.a4! leaving White with a superior position. The alternatives 2...d4, 2...c6, and 2...e6 are more common, with the latter two generally leading to aQueen's Gambit type of position, and 2...d4 typically being answered with the solid 3.e3 or the interesting and sharper 3.b4, resembling aBenko Gambit with the colors reversed, although Black lacks a pawn on c5.
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
| 8 |              | 8 | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | ||
After 2.c4 e6 (diagram):
After 2.c4 c6:
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