Réti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.d4 to

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3

3.g3 Nf6 

is the Neo-Catalan Opening, also under English (e.g. 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5). Here White can play 4.d4.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.d4 to

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3

After 4.Bg2, Black may play ...Be7 or ...dxc4. With move 4...Be7, White can then play 5.d4.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.d4 to

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2

This goes to the Closed Catalan, avoiding Open Catalan (except classical line).^[5] Or else White can castle, then Black probably castles as well.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 to

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O

With 4...dxc4 to 4.Bg2, White's most common move is 5.Qa4+, and this will not correspond to a 1.d4 line.

After 2.c4 c6, White can play 3.d4 for the Slav Defense.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 to

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3

After 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6, White can play 4.d4 for the Slav Defense.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.d4 to

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3

After 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6, White can play 5.d4 for the Semi-Slav Defense.

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 to

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3

However, White can play 

5.b3 instead.

Classic method: 2.c4

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.^[5]

After 2.c4 (ECO code A09), Black's choices are:

• 2...e6 or 2...c6 (holding the d5-point)
• 2...dxc4 (giving up the d5-point)
• 2...d4 (pushing the pawn)

If Black takes the pawn, then in the same manner as the QGA, 3.e3 or 3.e4 regain the pawn with a slight advantage to White—Black being left somewhat undeveloped. 3.Na3 and 3.Qa4+ are also good, and commonly played. This variety of White options limits the popularity of 2...dxc4.

The Réti Opening is a hypermodern chess

opening whose traditional or classic method begins with the moves:

1. Nf3 d5

 

2. c4

 

White plans to bring the d5-pawn under attack

from the flank, or entice it to advance to d4 and undermine it later. 

White will couple this plan with a kingside fianchetto (g3 and Bg2)

to create pressure on the light squares in the center.

The opening is named after Richard Réti (1889–1929),

an untitled Grandmaster from Czechoslovakia. 

The opening is in the spirit of the hypermodernism movement 

that Réti championed, with the center being dominated 

from the wings rather than by direct occupation.

1.Nf3 develops the knight to a good square, prepares for

quick castling, and prevents Black from occupying

the center by 1...e5. White maintains flexibility by not committing 

to a particular central pawn structure, while waiting to see 

what Black will do. But the Réti should not be thought of

as a single opening sequence, and certainly 

not a single opening move, but rather as an opening complex 

with many variations sharing common themes.

In the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO), 

Réti Opening is classified as codes A04–A09.