Réti Opening

When Réti - opening is an opening of the chess game, named after its inventor, Richard Réti. She made around 1920 in the chess world sensation, as they - at that time very unconventional - not the immediate occupation of the center (, e5 the strategically important fields d4, d5, e4) has by farmers to the destination.

Richard Réti began in the 1920s, many of his games with the old Zukertort train Sg1 1 -f3, followed usually replies with 1 ... d7 -d5 in order to provide a pawn in the center, which according to the classic opening theory ( propagated especially of chess masters such as Siegbert Tarrasch ) should already be tantamount to advantage. Now Réti led but - instead of the usual Zukertort train 2 d2 -d4, which leads to the queen's pawn game - the extravagant from the perspective of the classical theory train 2 c2 - c4 one, a temporary pawn sacrifice, which hinder the development of the Black and his center position should weaken. Black has, however, similar to the Queen's Gambit and the Catalan Opening determine the development of the c-file and a majority center as a destination, without the pawn structure. Furthermore fianchettierte Réti both white bishop. The sequence of moves 1 Sg1 -f3 d7 -d5 2 c4 c2 is often referred to as Réti system because transpositions occur.

The opening was not taken very seriously before Réti. From this period, the name " Napoleon - opening " and " Zukertort Opening". Until the mid-20th century, this opening was still poorly understood. Réti celebrated with her many successes and refined its strategy and on. In a famous match he defeated with his "invention" of the big international tournament in New York in 1924, José Raúl Capablanca, even, the brilliant World Champion, who was before this defeat ten years undefeated.

Today, the opening is considered a well-researched and playable version, although the classic trains 1 e2- e4 and 1 d2 -d4 still have more followers.

Variants

The usual way of playing Réti is 1 Sg1 -f3 2 c2 - c4, and now the Black remains the possibility to accept d7 -d5, the ( apparent) sacrifice

• ( White, after 2 ... d5xc4 recover immediately by 3 Dd1 -a4 farmers, but also plays the finer train 3 Nb1 -a3 to bring the lady not so early into the game. 3 e2 -e3 can on the planned Lf1xc4 and further d2 -d4 lead to Queen's Gambit Accepted. )

Or to wait with 2 ... e6 e7 - so as not to weaken its center and its development. In the second case, the position is approximated by 3 - g2 g3 the contours of the Catalan Opening, since the strategy of both sides is given by the farmer constellation. In some cases, a position from the Tarrasch Defence to the Queen's Gambit may arise, otherwise the possibilities are endless. 3 b2 -b3 is the typical sequel for Réti - opening, in the White retains his central pawns and only d2 -d3 and e2 -e3 pulls in conjunction with g2 - g3 - g2 Lf1, 0-0.

• However, If you play as a black 2 ... d5 -d4, there are other position images. Black will try with 3 ... c7 - c5 to secure space advantage in the center ( it creates a kind of Benoni Defence with colors reversed ), and it is kindled, because White has the oppose an active prevention strategy, a long positional battle for the center.

• 2 ... c7 - c6 threatens d5xc4. 3 d2 -d4 leads to the Slav Defence. 3 b2 -b3 is the typical sequel for Réti - opening.

Two of the greatest contemporary connoisseur of Réti opening in Germany are the masters player Karl -Heinz Podzielny and Klaus Bischoff.

After the move order 1 Sg1 -f3 d7 -d5 2 - g2 g3 is done by sacrificing c2 - c4 the transition to the King 's Indian Attack.

• Chess opening