Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack

The Réti-Spielmann Attack is 2.g3, preparing a kingside fianchetto against the French. White plans a bishop on g2 and flexible central play, while Black hits e4 with ...d5 and builds an Advance-style center after e5 with ...c5 and ...Nc6.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.g3
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.10 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
743 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...d5, push e5 and support it with c3 and Nf3, then put the bishop on g2.
  • Against ...c5, play Bg2 and trade on d5, then develop with Ne2 and castle.
  • Use a queen on e2 to protect e4 without blocking the g2 bishop.
  • Keep d4 as a later option once the knights are out and the king is castled.

Black

  • 2...d5 hits e4 and leads to Advance French structures with White's bishop on g2.
  • After e5, play ...c5 and ...Nc6, then route the g8 knight via h6 to f5.
  • 2...c5 with ...d5 claims the center and leaves White with an isolated e-pawn issue after trades.
  • Develop ...Nc6 and ...Nf6 quickly; Black's c8 bishop gets freedom if White trades on d5.

Plans and pawn structure

After 2...d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.Bg2 the game resembles an Advance French where White's bishop is on g2 instead of d3. Black hits d4 with ...Qb6 and ...cxd4, and the h6 knight goes to f5. If White trades on d5 instead, the position opens and the g2 bishop works on the long diagonal against b7. Black's plan is the same in all cases: hit the center fast.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.10: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.10 2...d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3
  2. +0.21 2...c5 3.Bg2 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ne2
  3. +0.30 2...h6 3.Qe2 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.c3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

743 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.5%.

under 120051.4%
1200–159941.9%
1600–199951.1%
2000 and up51.7%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, play ...d5 and ...c5 to claim the center. Against e5, use ...Nc6, ...Nh6-f5 and ...Qb6 to pressure d4. Avoid slow moves that let White build c3, d4 and Nf3 in peace. If White trades on d5, develop quickly and watch the g2 bishop's pressure on b7.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack?

The French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack starts 1.e4 e6 2.g3. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.10 at depth 20, which is level. In 743 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.5%. A low-theory system for White players who like fianchettos, but Black equalizes with ...d5 and ...c5.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: Réti-Spielmann Attack?

White prepares a fianchetto with g3 and Bg2. Black hits e4 with ...d5 and after e5 builds an Advance-style counterattack with ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Nh6-f5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with c5 and h6 close behind. 2...d5 attacks e4 before White can support it with Bg2 or d3.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.