Chessy
How to Play the Réti Opening as White
The Réti Opening begins quietly, but it can lead to very direct play right away. After 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4, Black must decide how to answer the pressure on the centre and the queenside. That is exactly what this drill trains: spotting the main reply, understanding the position, and punishing the most common inaccuracies. Stockfish rates the position +0.10, a tiny edge for White. That means you are basically level here, so your goal is to play accurately and keep the position under control.
Play the Réti Opening against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and test your answers against an adapting engine. Create a free account to track your progress and come back to this position anytime.
Create a free account →What the opening is trying to do
The Réti Opening is a flexible start for White. By developing the knight first and then challenging the centre with c4, you avoid committing too early and keep options open. The position after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 is the key testing point in this lesson: Black to move, White ready to react. In practical terms, you are asking Black to show how they want to hold the centre and handle the queenside pressure.
The engine’s main answer
Here the engine’s best move is d4, continuing d4 b4 c5 b5. You do not need to memorise more than that exact continuation for this lesson; the important point is that this is the line the engine prefers. It shows that Black can keep the game active, so White should be ready to meet central play rather than only thinking about a flank struggle.
What the database says
Across 2,725,877 games at this exact position, White scores 53.9%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 42.4%. Those numbers tell you this position is very playable for White, even though the engine’s evaluation is essentially equal. The most-played continuations are dxc4, d4, c6, Nf6, e6, and Bg4, so you will see these answers often in practice. This makes the drill especially useful: it prepares you for the moves real opponents choose most often.
The mistakes to know
Two replies are flagged as inaccuracies here. Nf6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; better was d4. Bg4 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; better was d4. If your opponent chooses either of these, you should feel encouraged: the opening is already giving you a cleaner game, and you can use that to develop smoothly and stay active.
Results across 2,725,877 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| dxc4 | 1,065,407 | 55.9% |
| d4 | 507,020 | 51.3% |
| c6 | 336,286 | 50.8% |
| Nf6 | 320,700 | 54.8% |
| e6 | 278,034 | 52.0% |
| Bg4 | 58,077 | 54.2% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Réti Opening in this lesson?
This lesson uses 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 as the starting position. You are White, and the drill begins with Black to move. The position is meant to teach you how to handle the most common replies after this flexible start.
Is the Réti Opening good for White?
Stockfish rates the position +0.10, a tiny edge for White. That means the position is basically equal, so White is not winning just by choosing it. Your success depends on playing accurately and responding well to Black’s reply.
What is the best move for Black here?
The engine’s best move is d4. In the supplied continuation, that keeps the game moving with d4 b4 c5 b5. In practice, you should be ready for central pressure rather than expecting Black to play passively.
Which replies should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are dxc4, d4, c6, Nf6, e6, and Bg4. The database numbers show that these are the moves you are most likely to face at this exact position. The drill helps you get used to them one by one.
How many games feature the Réti Opening?
Over 3 million Lichess games have reached the Réti Opening position. White wins 53.9%, Black wins 42.4%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.