Réti Opening
The Réti Opening arises after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4, where White attacks the d5 pawn from the flank instead of supporting a pawn on d4. White wants to undermine Black's center and use the long diagonal, while Black chooses between taking on c4, pushing ...d4 for space, or holding d5 with ...e6 or ...c6.
- Moves
- 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4
- ECO
- A09
- Engine
- −0.12 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 4,373 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 55.3%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Pressure d5 with c4 and follow with g3 and Bg2, so the bishop joins the attack on the center.
- Against ...d4, hit the pawn chain from the side with b4 and e3, as the top engine line does.
- After ...dxc4, win the pawn back with e3 and Bxc4, or with e4 for a broader center.
- If Black holds d5 with ...e6 or ...c6, d4 transposes into a queen's gambit on your terms.
Black
- Gain space with ...d4, cramping White's knight and preparing ...c5 and ...e5 behind the pawn.
- Take on c4 with ...dxc4 and use the tempo White spends regaining it to develop with ...Nf6 and ...e6.
- Hold the center with ...c6 or ...e6, then enter a Slav or Queen's Gambit Declined structure.
- In the Anglo-Slav, develop the c8 bishop to f5 or g4 before closing it in with ...e6.
Plans and pawn structure
In the 2...d4 lines Black has a space edge and White plays on the flanks: b4, e3 and a later exd4 to open lines, as in the engine line 2...d4 3.b4 c5 4.e3 Nf6 5.bxc5 Nc6 6.exd4. In the 2...dxc4 lines White regains the pawn with e3 and Bxc4 and gets a free, open game with a slight lead in development. When Black holds d5 with ...e6 or ...c6, White often plays d4 and the game becomes a Catalan or a Slav, with plans set by that structure.
Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.
What the Réti Opening is about
The Réti begins with 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. Instead of building a center with d4, White strikes at Black's d5 pawn from the side. The idea is to let Black take the center and then attack it with pieces and flank pawns: the c-pawn, a bishop on g2 and sometimes b4.
Across 4373 games from the starting position White scored 55.3%, a good result. The engine sees three solid answers for Black: 2...d4, 2...e6 and 2...c6. The push 2...d4 is its top choice and gives Black a small edge; the other two leave White slightly better.
The main variations
The Réti Accepted, 2...dxc4, is the most played line. Black gives up the center pawn and White wins it back. The engine line 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 a6 5.d4 e6 6.a4 c5 leads to a queen's gambit accepted structure where White's development is easy. White scored 56.9% here. The sharper 3.e4 is also possible, building a broad center before taking on c4.
The Advance Variation, 2...d4, is the engine's favorite. Black gains space and makes White's knight less useful. White fights the pawn with b4, e3 and sometimes d3, as in the engine line 3.b4 f6 4.d3 e5 5.a3. The structure looks like a Benoni with colors reversed, and White scored 56.2% in practice.
The Anglo-Slav Variation reaches a Réti setup by another order: 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c6 3.Nf3 d5 4.b3. White builds a double fianchetto and Black develops the bishop to f5 or g4 before ...e6. The engine sees a tiny edge for Black, and the results are balanced.
The Penguin Variation, 2...d4 3.Rg1, is a joke move. It wastes time and gives up castling rights; the engine clearly prefers Black.
Typical plans for White
White's standard setup is Nf3, c4, g3, Bg2 and O-O, sometimes with b3 and Bb2 for a double fianchetto. Both bishops then aim at the center from long range.
- Against ...d4: challenge the pawn with e3 or b4. Opening the e-file after exd4 can leave Black's center loose.
- Against ...dxc4: regain the pawn quickly with e3 and Bxc4, or in fianchetto lines with Qa4, taking on c4 with the queen.
- Against ...e6 or ...c6: play d4 and enter a Catalan or a Slav if you know them, or stay flexible with b3.
White rarely attacks the king early. The plan is to pressure the center until Black's pawns become targets.
Typical plans for Black
Black has three clear approaches. With ...d4, take space and support the pawn with ...c5 and ...e5, then use the extra room to develop with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6. With ...dxc4, develop fast with ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...c5 while White spends time getting the pawn back. With ...e6 or ...c6, keep the pawn on d5 and play a solid queen's gambit structure.
- Develop the c8 bishop early in ...c6 lines, to f5 or g4, before ...e6 shuts it in.
- In ...d4 lines, watch for White's b4 and e3 breaks and keep the d4 pawn protected.
Mistakes club players make
- Holding the c4 pawn with ...b5. After ...dxc4, trying to keep the extra pawn weakens the queenside and slows development.
- Ignoring the d4 pawn's weakness. In the Advance lines, Black pushes ...d4 but then lets b4 and e3 break up the chain.
- White playing too passively. If White never challenges ...d4, Black's space edge grows into a real advantage.
- Silly rook moves like 3.Rg1. The Penguin gives up castling for nothing.
- Locking in the c8 bishop. Black players often play ...e6 too early in ...c6 lines and leave the bishop with no scope.
Who should play it
The Réti suits White players who like flexible, positional chess and are comfortable with transpositions into the Catalan, Slav or English. It avoids a lot of 1.d4 theory while keeping the same kind of positions.
For Black, the ...d4 push is the most ambitious choice and fits players who like space. The ...e6 and ...c6 replies suit players who already defend queen's gambit positions.
One practical tip for both sides: learn the typical structures, not long move orders. Réti games often transpose, and a player who knows the Catalan, Slav and reversed Benoni plans will feel at home in most lines.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.12: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- −0.12 2...d4 3.b4 c5 4.e3 Nf6 5.bxc5
- +0.20 2...e6 3.d4 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2
- +0.27 2...c6 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
4,373 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.3%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Variations of the Réti Opening
- Réti Accepted2...dxc4 · 1,622 games
- Advance Variation2...d4 · 1,204 games
- Zilbermints Gambit2...b5 · rare
- Anglo-Slav Variation, Bogoljubow Variation2...c6 · rare
- Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit2...d4 · rare
- Réti Gambit, Keres Variation2...dxc4 · rare
- Anglo-Slav Variation, Bogoljubow Variation, Stonewall Line2...e6 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, the space-gaining 2...d4 is the engine's top choice and limits White's fianchetto ideas. If you prefer familiar structures, 2...e6 or 2...c6 lead to queen's gambit positions you may already know. Taking with 2...dxc4 is fine, but don't try to hold the extra pawn with ...b5; develop instead.
Questions
What are the moves of the Réti Opening?
The Réti Opening starts 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. Its ECO code is A09.
Is the Réti Opening good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.12 at depth 20, which is level. In 4,373 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.3%. A flexible choice for White players who like positional play and transpositions, but it rewards understanding of many structures more than memory.
What is the main idea of the Réti Opening?
White attacks Black's d5 pawn with the c-pawn rather than building a classical center. Black must decide whether to push past with ...d4, give up the center with ...dxc4, or support d5 and accept a queen's gambit structure.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is d4, with e6 and c6 close behind. 2...d4 gains space at once and turns White's knight and c-pawn into targets, which is why the engine likes it.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.