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Ponziani Opening

Réti Variation

C44offbeatsolid

  1. 1.e4e5
  2. 2.Nf3Nc6
  3. 3.c3Nge7
411 games46%50%

An offbeat Ponziani reply, 3...Nge7, also known as the Kmoch Variation, in which Black keeps the knight off f6 and lets White build a center.

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About the Réti Variation

The Réti Variation, also called the Kmoch Variation after Hans Kmoch, meets the Ponziani with 3...Nge7. Leaving f6 empty means that after 4. d4 exd4 5. cxd4 d5 the advance 6. e5 hits no knight. Most players answer 4. d4. Recent analysis prefers 4. Bc4 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5, when 6. O-O or 6. Qb3 gives White an edge. 4. Bb5 transposes to the Cozio Defense of the Ruy Lopez. The engine rates the position roughly level.

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