The Reti Opening!

Hello everyone!

This game was suggested for my to analyze! It was a very good game, and a really fun endgame to watch. This game is a great example of the Reti Opening (Played by Reti Himself) and is a great game to analyze. Leave in the comments more games for me to analyze and enjoy the show!

Actually, after 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 there are better replies for White than 3. Qa4+ which allows Black to exchange Queens by 3. … Qd7 4. Qxc4 Qc6 pinning White's Queen against the unguarded Bishop on c1.

A better move for White after (1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4) would be 3. e3 since Black cannot hang onto the extra Pawn by 3. … b5 4. a4 c6 (obviously 4. … a6 5. axb5 doesn't work for Black) 5. axb5 cxb5 6. b3! and Black must return the extra Pawn (for example, 6. … Be6 7. bxc4 Bxc4 8. Bxc4 bxc4 and only now 9. Qa4+ followed if necessary by Na3).

Oh wow yeah nice, If I ever make a video directly on the reti, I will use this thanks, but this was more to analyze this game! Thanks

I usually play the 6.b3 line and get a solid initiative.

Yeah thats good too, should I make a video about the reti opening and go more in depth?

Here's one of my games from last year against a 1900-rated opponent:

As you can see, it follows the 6. b3 line.

One interesting point is that in the ending there was the possibility of an interesting "minimalist" zugzwang, if Black had played 46. … Kf6 instead of the text 46. … g6: