Réti Opening A09
A — Flank openings · Family: Réti Opening
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4
The Réti Opening (1.Nf3 d5 2.c4) is Richard Réti's hypermodern masterpiece: instead of occupying the center, White attacks d5 from the flank and undermines Black's position with c4, e3 and g3 development. Together with the move-order flexibility of 1.Nf3 it has become a top choice of positional grandmasters.
Black's main replies define the play: 2...e6 (heading for Queen's Gambit structures with ...c5 or ...b6), 2...dxc4 (the Réti Gambit, where White regains the pawn with e3 and builds a big center) and 2...e5 or 2...g6 set-ups that keep independent life. Typical themes: the d4-square, the b3/...c5 tension, and slow buildups where a single accurate pawn break decides the game. The Réti rewards deep positional understanding — and punishes memory-dependent opponents.
Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.
- Position after 3 half-moves — Black to move.
- Material is balanced.
- Family “Réti Opening” contains 43 recorded variation(s) here.
Variations tree of the Réti Opening family
Click any move to jump to that position; switch branches at any point with the alternative moves. Test your knowledge plays the shown position against the engine.
Variations of this family
| Name | ECO | Main line length |
|---|---|---|
| Réti Opening: Advance Variation | A09 | 4 plies |
| Réti Opening: Advance Variation, Michel Gambit | A09 | 6 plies |
| Réti Opening: Advance Variation, Navara Gambit | A09 | 6 plies |
| Réti Opening: Penguin Variation | A09 | 5 plies |
| Réti Opening: Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit | A09 | 7 plies |
| Réti Opening: Réti Accepted | A09 | 4 plies |
| Réti Opening: Réti Gambit, Keres Variation | A09 | 6 plies |
| Réti Opening: Zilbermints Gambit | A09 | 4 plies |
| Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System | A11 | 5 plies |
| Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System | A11 | 7 plies |
| Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System | A11 | 9 plies |
| Réti Opening: Anglo-Slav Variation, Gurevich System | A11 | 10 plies |
Related openings
Nearby ECO codes in the A — Flank openings volume — compare the move orders: