- The moves1. Nf3 d5 2. c4
- Chosen byWhite
- ECOA09
- Also calledRéti System
The Réti Opening comes after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. White attacks Black's central pawn from the flank instead of putting pawns in the middle. White often fianchettoes one or both bishops, castles short and holds back d4, sometimes for the whole game. The name is also used for 1.Nf3 alone, which is also called the Zukertort Opening.
The opening is named after Richard Réti (1889–1929), one of the leading hypermoderns. They wanted to control the center from a distance, with pieces and fianchettoed bishops, instead of occupying it with pawns. According to Réti himself, the opening entered master play early in 1923. It became famous the following year, when he beat the reigning world champion José Raúl Capablanca in New York, Capablanca's first loss in eight years. That game began 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6, without …d5. In those days almost any game with Nf3 and c4 was called a Réti.
The Réti often turns into other openings. If Black answers 2…c6 or 2…e6 and White then plays d4, it can become a Queen's Gambit, a Slav Defense or a Catalan. Anyone who wants a Réti of their own fianchettoes and lets the d-pawn wait. Gukesh chose the opening in game 11 of the 2024 world championship match against Ding Liren, and won.
The main line, move by move
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bf5 5. O-O e6 6. b3 Nbd7 7. Bb2 Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2
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The ideas
White wants to
- Attack d5 from the side with c4 and let the center wait.
- Fianchetto one or both bishops, so that they control the center from a distance.
- Choose the right moment for d4, e4 or b4, or skip them entirely.
Black wants to
- Hold the pawn on d5 with …c6 or …e6, or push past with …d4.
- Take a solid share of the center and develop calmly.
- Watch the transpositions. The Réti often turns into other openings.
Important variations
Black pushes past: 2…d4
Black pushes past with the pawn and gains space. The position resembles a Modern Benoni with colors reversed, and White likes to fianchetto the king's bishop, just as Black does in the Benoni. White can challenge the pawn with 3.e3 or play sharply with 3.b4, which recalls a Benko Gambit with colors reversed.
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 c5 4. exd4 cxd4 5. d3 Nc6 6. g3 e5 7. Bg2
Toward the Catalan: 2…e6
With 2…e6 Black holds d5 as in a Queen's Gambit Declined. If White plays g3 and Bg2, it becomes what is called the Neo-Catalan, and with d4 it becomes a real Catalan Opening. White can also leave the d-pawn alone and play b3 and Bb2.
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4
Black takes the pawn: 2…dxc4
Black takes the pawn, as in the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Among club players it is the most common reply, but strong players choose it less often. White simply wins the pawn back, for example with 3.e3 and 4.Bxc4, and stands a little better. Trying to hold on to it with 3…b5 is risky, because 4.a4 strikes at the pawns at once.
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. O-O c5
How it goes in real games
How the games ended once the position had come up on the board, in blitz, rapid and classical games. White wins, draws and Black wins, as a percentage of the games.
| Position | Level | Games | White wins | Draw | Black wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Réti Opening 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 | Club players | 5,820,130 | 53% | 5% | 41% |
| Strong players | 2,512,623 | 52% | 7% | 41% | |
| Réti Opening, main line, up to 4…Bf5 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bf5 | Club players | 241,281 | 50% | 8% | 42% |
| Strong players | 188,891 | 50% | 8% | 42% | |
| Black pushes past: 2…d4, up to 3…c5 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 c5 | Club players | 287,486 | 52% | 4% | 44% |
| Strong players | 141,030 | 53% | 5% | 42% | |
| Toward the Catalan: 2…e6 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 | Club players | 1,844,318 | 51% | 8% | 41% |
| Strong players | 1,431,203 | 50% | 9% | 41% | |
| Black takes the pawn: 2…dxc4, up to 3.e3 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 | Club players | 574,802 | 59% | 5% | 37% |
| Strong players | 161,733 | 57% | 6% | 37% |
The most common continuations after 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4
Club players, share of the games in the position.
- 2…dxc4 24% (1,418,866 games)
- 2…d4 22% (1,304,286 games)
- 2…c6 22% (1,258,548 games)
- 2…e6 17% (977,212 games)
- 2…Nf6 10% (562,192 games)
Source: games on Lichess, fetched November 6–7, 2026. Club players means games where the players average 1600 or more, strong players games where they average 2000 or more. The strong players' games are counted among the club players' too. Each position is counted however it was reached, and a line that goes further than we have numbers for is shown up to its last position with numbers.
Explore the position on the analysis board: the moves club players choose from here, how the games tend to end, and what Lavi thinks of each move.
Is this opening for you?
The Réti Opening suits White players who like flexible, strategic games, where understanding matters more than long forcing lines. The same ideas, bishops on long diagonals and a center controlled from the side, come back game after game.
If you play the English Opening or the Catalan, the Réti is close at hand, and the transpositions often let White choose which opening it becomes. With Black, it is wise to decide in advance whether to hold d5 with …c6 or …e6, or to push past with …d4.
Practice the main line
Choose a color and one of the house players. Your opponent follows the main line, and you try to find your moves. If you play something else, you'll see the main line's move, but the game goes on. When the main line ends, you play freely.
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The main line with all the comments as text
1. Nf3 The knight controls d4 and e5, and White doesn't commit to any pawn structure. 1… d5 Black takes space in the center. 2. c4 This is the Réti Opening. White attacks the pawn on d5 from the side. 2… c6 Black protects d5 with the c-pawn, as in the Slav Defense. Among strong players it is the most common reply. 3. g3 White fianchettoes instead of playing d4. 3… Nf6 4. Bg2 The bishop presses along the long diagonal toward d5 and Black's queenside. 4… Bf5 Black develops the queen's bishop before …e6 shuts it in. It is the most common move here. 5. O-O The king is safe. 5… e6 Black now has a solid chain with pawns on c6, d5 and e6. 6. b3 White prepares the second fianchetto. 6… Nbd7 7. Bb2 Both White bishops stand on long diagonals. This is the Réti System: the center is controlled from the flanks. 7… Be7 8. d3 White moves the d-pawn only one square and keeps every option open. 8… O-O 9. Nbd2 The knight supports e4. The position is equal, and the game will be slow and strategic.
More openings
English Opening
1.c4: control of d5 from the flank, with many roads into the middlegame.
Catalan Opening
The bishop on g2 presses along the long diagonal. Kramnik's, Anand's and Carlsen's weapon in world championship matches.
Slav Defense
2…c6: solid as a wall, and the bishop on c8 is free.
Queen's Gambit
2.c4 challenges d5. The classical d4 opening, with a Swedish variation among its lines.
Every move on this page has been checked against the rules of chess.
Updated November 6, 2026
2. c4
This is the Réti Opening. White attacks the pawn on d5 from the side.