Réti Opening
White develops a knight and challenges the d-pawn with the c-pawn. Keeping the d-pawn in reserve gives flexibility; decide whether to undermine the center or transpose into a queen-pawn opening.
Your plan as White
Develop with Nf3 and challenge the center from the flank, keeping d4 in reserve.
The opponent’s plan
Occupy or challenge central squares without overextending the pawn chain.
Watch out: Delaying central pawn moves does not remove the need to contest the center.
Opening game…
Practice this line as White.
Play three moves from the line you watched. Hints draw an arrow on the board. Complete a fresh attempt without hints or retries to pass.
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Name, background and sources
Richard Réti was a leading advocate of hypermodern chess. His victories with flank-opening ideas in the 1920s helped establish their reputation.
Read the opening background on Chess.com ↗Lichess opening names and reference lines (CC0)
ChessSum provides original explanatory notes. Related lines are labeled separately. Reference lines illustrate ideas; they are not a claim that every other legal move is wrong.
Watch how the center and piece development change. Each arrow previews the next move.