Chess Drills
Réti Opening: flexible plans for White
The Réti is named after Richard Réti, one of the hypermodern players of the 1920s. Their idea: you don't have to fill the centre with pawns straight away. You can control it from a distance with pieces and attack it later. You start with the knight to f3, and after 1...d5 you push the c-pawn to c4 to attack Black's d5-pawn from the side, a bit like the Queen's Gambit.
You usually put one or both bishops on long diagonals and castle quickly. The Réti often turns into English or Queen's Gambit positions. That makes it flexible, but you need a good feel for move orders, so it is a choice for experienced players rather than a first opening.
Good fit for: Patient players who like to outplay their opponent slowly rather than out-calculate them.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Attack d5 from the side. Your c-pawn attacks Black's centre pawn. Black has to choose: defend it with the c- or e-pawn, take on c4, or push past to d4.
- Fianchetto and castle. Play g3, put the bishop on g2 and castle early. This is a fianchetto (bishop on the long diagonal after g3). Often the other bishop goes to b2 after b3.
- Break in the centre later. Once your pieces are out, pick the right moment to push a centre pawn, with d4 or e4.
- Punish an advanced pawn. If Black pushes the pawn to d4, it can become a target. Attack it with your e- and b-pawns, or swap it off and gain time against Black's pieces.
The main lines
Main line: Black defends with the c-pawn
Black supports the d5-pawn with the c-pawn. Black then brings the bishop out to f5 before playing the e-pawn, so it isn't stuck behind the pawns. You put both bishops on long diagonals and castle.
- Your plan: bishop to b2, pawn to d3 and knight to d2, keeping the position flexible.
- Why b3 and g3? Both bishops get long diagonals that point at the centre.
- Good to know: Black's setup is sound, so this is a long game of plans, not quick tactics.
Black takes the c4-pawn
Black takes your pawn on c4, but you simply win it back with the bishop after the e-pawn move. The position looks like the Queen's Gambit Accepted: open, with easy development for both sides.
- Your plan: take back on c4, castle, and then choose between the d4 push and a bishop on b2.
- Why e3? It opens the way for your bishop to take back on c4.
- Good to know: don't try to keep material here; just develop.
Black pushes past: the pawn goes to d4
Black pushes the pawn to d4 to gain space and cramp you. You hit back at once with the e-pawn. After some exchanges Black's queen stands in the centre on d4.
- Your plan: gain time by attacking the queen, with d3, the bishop to e3 and the knight to b5.
- Watch out: Black's pawn on c7 can become a target for your knight.
- Good to know: Black must develop quickly, so keep up the pressure.
King's Indian Attack: the same setup every game
Here you leave the c-pawn at home and build a fixed setup: knight to f3, bishop on g2, castle, d-pawn one square, other knight to d2. Then you push the e-pawn to e4.
- Your plan: aim for the e4 push, and if the centre closes, attack on the kingside.
- Good to know: you can play this setup against almost anything Black does.
- Why the knight on d2? It supports the e4 push.
Questions
What is the difference between the Réti and the English?
The Réti starts with the knight to f3 and usually follows with the c-pawn; the English starts with the c-pawn. They often reach the same positions, but starting with the knight avoids some replies such as 1...e5.
Is the Réti Opening good for beginners?
Not really as a first opening. It leads to quiet, strategic positions and depends on move-order tricks. It's a good choice once you understand pawn structures and want something flexible.
What should I learn first?
Learn the King's Indian Attack setup first, because you can play it against anything. Then learn the main line with the c-pawn against 1...d5, including what to do when Black takes on c4 or pushes to d4.
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