Why the Réti Opening is worth training
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4.The Réti Opening starts with 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. White develops a knight and hits d5 from the side before committing the d-pawn. Black must choose at once: push past with 2...d4, take with 2...dxc4, or defend d5 with ...c6 or ...e6. White usually fianchettoes at least one bishop and attacks Black's center with pieces and flank pawns instead of occupying it.
Chessmate has a Réti Opening course for White and a Réti Opening course for Black. The White course has eleven lines against 2...d4, 2...dxc4, 2...c6, 2...e6, and 1...Nf6, and the Black course has six lines built around the space-gaining 2...d4.
The queenside clamp sample line for White
11.Nbd2, White has finished development, and the pawns on a4 and b5 keep the queenside closed.In the White sample line, Black gains space with 2...d4, and White grabs queenside space with 3.b4. After 3...c5, White attacks the base of the d4 pawn with 4.e3, and after 4...Nf6 closes the queenside with 5.b5, which takes c6 away from Black's knight.
After 5...Qc7 6.g3 e5 7.d3 Bd6, Black has a broad pawn chain on c5, d4, and e5. White fianchettoes with 8.Bg2 and castles with 9.O-O. After 9...a6, White keeps the queenside closed with 10.a4 and finishes development with 10...Nbd7 11.Nbd2. The knight supports e4 and c4, and White is ready to break down the d4 pawn.
The ...f6 sample line for Black
12...c6, Black is a pawn up, the knight on b4 eyes a2, and the c-pawn challenges b5.The Black course meets 3.b4 with 3...f6, which prepares ...e5 and keeps White's knight off e5. After 4.e3 e5, Black has a broad center, and after 5.c5 Black attacks the base of White's queenside chain with 5...a5.
White checks with 6.Qa4+, and Black blocks with 6...Bd7. After 7.b5, the f8 bishop takes the advanced pawn with 7...Bxc5. After 8.Bc4 Ne7 9.exd4 exd4, Black restores the pawn on d4 and opens the e-file. Black then brings the knight to b4 with 10.Ba3 Na6 11.O-O Nb4, and after 12.Re1 challenges the b5 pawn with 12...c6.
Other ...d4 lines, ...dxc4, and the Anti-Grünfeld for White
9.e4, the pawn on h6 cramps Black's kingside, and White has built a broad center.Against other replies to 3.b4, the White course keeps the same ideas. Against 3...f6, 3...g5, and 3...g6, White checks with Qa4+ to force ...Bd7 and gains more space with b5. Against 3...Bg4, White accepts doubled f-pawns with 5.exf3 and uses them to strike at e5 with 8.f4. Another line shows the h-file attack in which 16...Bxd4? loses to the queen sacrifice 17.Qh8+.
Against 2...dxc4, White wins back the pawn with 3.Na3 and 4.Nxc4 without bringing the queen out early. Against 2...c6, White uses e3, Nc3, and the b3 and Bb2 setup, then attacks the bishop on d6 with 11.Nb5. Against 2...e6, White fianchettoes both bishops and switches to a Catalan-style center with 8.d4. Against 1...Nf6 and a Grünfeld setup, White trades on d5, pushes the h-pawn with 5.h4, and builds the center with 9.e4.
Black's answers to g3, e3, d3, e4, and c5
6...Nge7, Black's pawns on c5, d4, and e5 form a wide chain, and the knight can go to g6.The Black course keeps 2...d4 against every White setup. Against the fianchetto with 3.g3, Black plays 3...Nc6 and 4...e5, then develops with ...Nf6 and 6...Bd6. Against 3.e3, Black develops with 3...Nc6, and after 4.exd4 Nxd4 5.Nxd4 Qxd4 6.Nc3 takes b5 and d5 away from the knight with 6...c6.
Against 3.d3, Black builds the chain with ...e5, checks with 5...Bb4+, and gains queenside space with 6...a5. Against 3.e4, Black supports d4 with 3...c5 and develops behind the chain with ...Nc6, ...e5, and 6...Nge7. Against 3.c5, Black centralizes the queen with 4...Qd5 to hit the c5 pawn and pressures the knight on f3 with 6...Bg4.
What to train first
Pick the course for the color you play.
- If you play the Réti Opening as White, start with the Réti Opening course for White. Learn the queenside clamp sample line first, then the Qa4+ lines and the answer to
2...dxc4. - If you face the Réti Opening as Black, start with the Réti Opening course for Black. Learn the ...f6 sample line first, then the answers to
3.g3and3.e4. - Whichever side you play, watch the pawn on d4. White wants to undermine it with b4, e3, and the fianchetto, and Black wants to support it with ...c5 or ...e5.
The Réti Opening gives White a flexible setup and gives Black the chance to grab space at once. Train the lines until you know when Black's advanced pawn is a strength and when it becomes a target.