Reti Opening

Play as WhiteSystem

Control the center with pieces first, delaying committing the central pawns.

The main line, move by move

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6 9. d3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Rc8

1. 1. Nf3 — Develop a knight first and keep your central options open.
2. 1... d5 — Black grabs the center.
3. 2. c4 — Challenge the d5 pawn from the side.
4. 2... e6 — Support d5 solidly.
5. 3. g3 — Prepare to fianchetto the bishop.
6. 3... Nf6 — Develop the knight toward the center.
7. 4. Bg2 — The bishop eyes the long diagonal.
8. 4... Be7 — Develop the bishop and prepare to castle.
9. 5. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
10. 5... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
11. 6. b3 — Prepare the other bishop for the long diagonal.
12. 6... c5 — Challenge the center from the side.
13. 7. Bb2 — The bishop joins the long diagonal.
14. 7... Nc6 — Develop the knight and pressure d4.
15. 8. e3 — Support the center and free the f1 bishop.
16. 8... b6 — Prepare to put the bishop on b7.
17. 9. d3 — Support e4 and keep the position solid.
18. 9... Bb7 — Put the bishop on the long diagonal.
19. 10. Nbd2 — Develop the last knight.
20. 10... Rc8 — Put the rook on the semi-open c-file.

Other sound lines

• 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 Nc6 4. exd4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 Nf6 8. Be3 Qd8

Related openings

• London System
• Catalan
• English Opening
• Colle System
• Trompowsky Attack

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