Chessy
Réti Opening: Advance Variation for Black
After 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4, White has pushed the game into a sharp, cramped structure where your next decisions matter. This page is built to help you handle the position as Black, not just recognise it. The drill below lets you practise the key move, the common replies, and the typical mistakes so you can get comfortable when White challenges your space early.
Play the Réti Opening: Advance Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What Black is trying to hold
The pawn on d4 gives you space, but it can also become a target if you drift. Your practical aim is to keep the position stable, make White work for every square, and avoid letting the centre become easy to open against you. In this structure, move choice matters because White has several natural continuations, and your best reply needs to fit the pawn tension rather than ignore it.
The engine move in the drill
Stockfish rates this +0.26, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The engine’s best move is b4, and the main continuation given is b4 c5 b5 Nd7. That is the move to learn first in the drill, because it matches the position’s demands and keeps you in the game against White’s space advantage.
What the database says White tries most
Across 506,681 games at this exact position, White’s most common choices are e3 with 181,627 games, b4 with 109,592 games, d3 with 100,396 games, and g3 with 53,988 games. The position is not rare, so knowing the main replies pays off quickly.
The results show White wins 51.3%, draws 3.2%, and Black wins 45.5%. That is a useful reminder that you need active, accurate play rather than passive waiting.
Mistakes to punish or avoid
The database flags a few common inaccuracies in this position. g3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; better was b4. b3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; better was b4. e4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; better was b4.
For your training, the key takeaway is simple: when White chooses a softer move, be ready to meet it with accurate, energetic play instead of giving White an easy game.
Results across 506,681 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 181,627 | 52.4% |
| b4 | 109,592 | 54.0% |
| d3 | 100,396 | 49.8% |
| g3 | 53,988 | 52.3% |
| b3 | 19,385 | 44.7% |
| e4 | 14,947 | 48.2% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea for Black in the Réti Opening: Advance Variation?
You are trying to use the advanced d-pawn space without letting White make it easy to attack. The position asks for careful, active play, and the engine move in the drill is **b4**.
Is this position good for Black?
Stockfish rates it +0.26, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so you should aim for precise, practical moves rather than expecting an equal game by force.
What move should I learn first in this position?
The engine’s best move is **b4**. The listed continuation is **b4 c5 b5 Nd7**, which is the main line to know for the drill.
Which White moves are most common here?
The most-played continuations are **e3**, **b4**, **d3**, **g3**, **b3**, and **e4**. Among them, **g3**, **b3**, and **e4** are marked as inaccuracies, all better met by **b4**.
How many games feature the Réti Opening: Advance Variation?
Over 506K Lichess games have reached the Réti Opening: Advance Variation position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 45.5%, with 3.2% draws — based on real rated games.