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Réti Opening: knight first, then hit the center from the flank

1. Nf3 plus c4 hits Black's d5 from the side. It's the signature opening of "hypermodern" chess.

Also called：Réti Opening、Reti Opening、Reti

The Réti Opening is 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4. White develops the knight first, waits for Black to take the center with d5, then hits it from the side with the c-pawn. White isn't in a hurry to push the center pawns, and lets the bishops and knights control the center from afar. If you want to try something that feels completely different from 1. e4 when you play online chess, it's well worth learning.

Moves and position

Two moves are enough to show its character:

  1. 1. Nf3 The knight comes out, watching d4 and e5, and White hasn't decided what to do with the center pawns yet.
  2. 1... d5 Black takes the center with a pawn.
  3. 2. c4 Instead of d4, White attacks d5 from the flank with the c-pawn.

This idea of "don't occupy the center, control it from the flank" is called hypermodern chess. One story says that the early twentieth-century player Richard Réti used exactly this kind of play and took the top players of his day by surprise.

What White wants

  • Hit the center from the flank: c4 hits d5 and makes Black decide whether to hold, trade or push past.
  • The long diagonal: Next usually come g3 and Bg2, so the bishop watches the center and Black's queenside from afar.
  • Flexibility: White's d-pawn hasn't moved yet. Later it can go to d4 for a Queen's Gambit, or to d3 for a slower game.

What Black wants

  • Hold d5: Support it with e6 or c6 so the center pawn stands firm.
  • Push past: Grab more space with d4 and keep White's knight boxed in behind it.
  • Take on c4: Win a pawn first, but be careful not to cling to it, or it backfires.

Main lines

Solid hold: 2... e6

Black holds d5 with e6, and both sides castle quickly. White then plays b3 to put the other bishop on a long diagonal too.

The most solid answer. Black holds the center just like in the Queen's Gambit. White puts both bishops on long diagonals (g2 and b2) and watches the center from both sides at long range. The game is very calm, and it's all about who sets up better.

Push past: 2... d4

The black pawn pushes to d4 to grab space. White hits it with e3, and after the trade the black knight lands on d4.

Black doesn't hold or trade, but pushes right past and squeezes White back. It's like a reversed Benoni. White usually hits this advanced pawn with e3 or b4 to make it wobble.

Win a pawn first: 2... dxc4

Black takes on c4. White plays e3 to open the bishop's path and quickly wins it back.

Black takes the pawn first. White stays calm, plays e3 to bring out the bishop and takes back. It's like a Queen's Gambit Accepted position. Black is solid but has given White a bit of the center.

A common trap: trying to hold on to the extra pawn

After taking on c4, it's tempting for Black to hold the extra pawn with b5. White hits it from the side with a4:

After Black recaptures on b5 with the c-pawn, White hits c4 with b3. Black's pawn structure is falling apart.

Now if Black takes again:

The white bishop takes b5 with check, and the white queen takes back on b3. All of Black's extra pawns are gone, and the a-file is open.

Count the pawns: they're equal again, but White's bishop and queen are already out, and the rook on a1 is staring at Black's pawn on a7. Black has developed only one bishop, and the king hasn't castled.

A better idea for Black: don't cling to the pawn. After taking, just develop, for example 3... Nf6, and don't worry if White wins it back. Remember: an extra pawn in the opening doesn't matter much. Falling behind in development is what hurts.

Who it suits

  • Players who like to build up slowly: The Réti doesn't charge. It sets up the pieces first.
  • Players who want to avoid heavy opening theory: White's setup is quite fixed (Nf3, c4, g3, Bg2), and you can use it against almost anything Black plays.
  • Players who like flexibility: It can turn into a Queen's Gambit or an English later, depending on what Black does.

It's very similar to the English Opening, and the two often transpose. The difference is that the Réti starts with the knight and the English starts with c4.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Réti and the English?

Both control the center from the flank and put the bishop on g2. The Réti plays Nf3 first and waits for Black's d5 before hitting it with c4. The English plays c4 first. The two often reach the same position after a few moves, so you can learn them together.

Is 1. Nf3 always the Réti Opening?

No. After 1. Nf3, if White plays d4 soon, it becomes a Queen's Gambit or another 1. d4 opening. If White plays g3, d3 and e4, it's the King's Indian Attack. It's usually only called the Réti once White hits d5 with the c-pawn, as in 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4.

Is the Réti Opening good for beginners?

You can try it, but it relies more on understanding the position, and it doesn't give a quick direct attack like 1. e4 does. It's better to learn the open games after 1. e4 first, then come back to the Réti. You'll understand much better why it's played this way.

Try it yourself

Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Réti Opening. With White, remember to open the long diagonal with g3 and Bg2. For other openings, go back to the openings guide. For something different, head back to the play chess free home page.

Play this opening against the computer

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