Newsgroups: rec.games.chess.misc Path: info!dregis From: dregis@exeter.ac.uk (D.Regis) Subject: Re: Openings... Reti opening (1. Nf3) Message-ID: Organization: University of Exeter, UK. References: <5cqlm3$pl0@nimble.mta.ca> Date: Wed, 5 Feb 1997 12:37:16 GMT In article <5cqlm3$pl0@nimble.mta.ca> cprchrd@mailserv.mta.ca (Christian P Richard) writes: >I was told this was the Reti Opening: > >1. Nf3 d5 >2. c4 Yes it is! > >Does anyone play this? And if so, what do you answer to 2...dxc4 ? >What kind of game does this give? The traditional answer is 3. Na3, giving a fairly slow, solid game which might be to your taste. [White can also play 3. Qa4+] >Would this opening work well for my style of playing? If not, which >openings for black and white? I usually prefer less popular openings, but >I do play Alekhine against 1.e4. Is the Pirc defense suitable, etc? Both of these often require vigorous counterattacking play if White decides to go for your throat, which might not be to your taste. Slower defensive systems, where White may find it more difficult to play sharply, include the Caro-Kann and the French. >Does the Reti focus on defending while still maintaining an attacking edge >for later on when the time comes to beat my opponent? I wouldn't ordinarily say that the Reti had much of an attacking edge, although some systems with an apparently slow start (like the double fianchetto with e2-e3) can lead to a vicious attack if Black is complacent. I'd say the Reti is generally too slow and subtle an opening for most folk, as White doesn't have a clear plan to follow. >If anybody else plays 1. Nf3, I would be interested in knowing if you >recommend the 2. c4 or if you play something else like g3, etc. I'm quite amenable to the King's Indian Attack, a system with: Nf3 g3 Bg2 O-O and instead of c2-c4 follow up with: d3 Nbd2 e4 you can the attack the King's-side with moves like... Re1 e5 Nf1 Bf4 h4 Nh2 Ng4 Ng5 Qh5 or expand in the centre and Queen's-side with c3 b4 a4 Nc4 d4 These pawn-led advances may be clearer to you than re-arranging the pieces in the less fixed Reti systems. Also, there are lots of readily-available games, books, and so on - you can get much more help with playing the KIA than the Reti. >Is it a good position to have pawns at c4, b3, and d3, with the knight at >c3? Or even a pawn at e4? I'd usually plonk it on d2, because I'd expect to have a B on b2. >I guess I should buy a book, but I don't know if I am really interested in >this opening or not... yet. Well, try it a few times. Proof of the pudding, eh? D From info!dregis Thu Feb 6 09:44:20 GMT 1997 Article: 5362 of rec.games.chess.analysis