Réti Opening

The Réti Opening, named after Richard Réti and sometimes called the Réti System or, following Tartakower, the Réti–Zukertort Opening, arises after 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4. White strikes at the d5-pawn from the side instead of occupying the center with pawns. In the classic method White fianchettoes at least one bishop, castles kingside, holds back d4, and often expands on the queenside with b4. The engine rates the position as balanced, and White scores well in practice.

The most frequent replies, 2...e6 and 2...c6, keep the pawn on d5 and invite transpositions. After 2...e6 3. d4 the game becomes a Queen's Gambit Declined. After 2...c6 3. d4 it becomes a Slav, and 3. e3 Nf6 4. d4 gives a Slow Slav. White can stay independent with a fianchetto. After 2...e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2, Black chooses between 4...Be7, when 5. d4 reaches a Closed Catalan, and 4...dxc4, usually met by 5. Qa4+ in a position with no 1. d4 equivalent. 3. b3 is another option against both defenses.

The two lines that stay truly within the Réti are 2...dxc4 and 2...d4. The Réti Accepted, 2...dxc4, resembles the Queen's Gambit Accepted. White regains the pawn with 3. e3 or 3. e4, or with 3. Na3 or 3. Qa4+, and often keeps a small lead in development. Some lines transpose directly, for example 3. e3 e6 4. Bxc4 c5 5. d4 Nf6 reaches the Classical Defense of the QGA. 3. e3 Be6 is the Keres Variation.

The Advance Variation, 2...d4, gains space and takes c3 and e3 from White's minor pieces. The result is a Benoni structure with colors reversed. White undermines the pawn with e3, b4 or a3 and b4, while Black supports it with ...c5 and ...Nc6. The sharpest try is the Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit, 3. e3 c5 4. b4 dxe3 5. fxe3 cxb4 6. d4. Here White gives up a pawn for a strong center and quick development, and the compensation is generally judged sufficient. The quieter 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O e4 6. Ne1 lets Black build a broad center reminiscent of the Alekhine Defense. White then targets the advanced pawns with moves such as d3. 3. b4 is another sharp option, resembling a reversed Benko Gambit. Among the offbeat lines are the Penguin Variation, 3. Rg1, and Black's Zilbermints Gambit, 2...b5.

Réti dated the opening's entry into master play to early 1923. His best-known win with it came against the reigning world champion Capablanca at New York 1924. Alekhine also played it in the 1920s. More recently, Gukesh Dommaraju used it to win game 11 of the 2024 World Championship against Ding Liren.