Reti Opening and Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack
Réti Opening
Definition
The Réti Opening is a hypermodern chess opening that begins with the move 1. Nf3 (and often continues with 2. c4). Rather than occupying the center immediately with pawns, White develops a knight to control central squares from a distance and keeps the pawn structure flexible. A common starting sequence is:
1. Nf3 d5 2. c4
Typical Move-Order Paths
- Réti vs. Queen’s Gambit Formation: 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3, aiming for a Catalan-style fianchetto.
- Réti–King’s Indian Reversed: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O d6, mirroring Black’s King’s Indian Defense but with an extra tempo.
- Réti–English Hybrid: 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3, transposing into an English Opening.
Strategic and Historical Significance
First championed by the Czechoslovak grandmaster Richard Réti in the 1920s, the opening embodies hypermodern principles—inviting Black to occupy the center with pawns only to undermine and attack it later. Réti famously defeated World Champion José Raúl Capablanca in New York 1924 using this system, ending Capablanca’s eight-year unbeaten streak.
Plans and Typical Ideas
- Pressure on d5 and e4: Early c4 targets d5; later pieces pile up on e4 after ...dxc4 or ...d4.
- Flexible pawn structure: White may advance d2-d4, e2-e4, or play for breaks with b2-b4 depending on Black’s setup.
- King-side fianchetto: The bishop on g2 exerts long-range pressure on the central and queen-side dark squares.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Usage in Modern Play
Elite grandmasters such as Vladimir Kramnik, Magnus Carlsen, and Wesley So occasionally employ the Réti to sidestep heavily analyzed 1. e4 and 1. d4 defenses. Its transpositional nature keeps opponents guessing—prized in rapid and blitz time controls.
Notable Games
- Réti vs. Capablanca, New York 1924 – The inaugural “immortal” Réti victory.
- Kramnik vs. Kasparov, Linares 1999 – Kramnik drew comfortably as White en route to winning the event.
- Carlsen vs. Anand, World Championship 2014 ( Game 2 ) – Carlsen used a Réti/English hybrid to secure a small but lasting edge.
Interesting Facts
- Because of its transpositional power, databases often classify Réti games under multiple ECO codes (A04–A09).
- Réti’s hypermodern treatise “Modern Ideas in Chess” (1923) was published the year before his famous victory over Capablanca, showcasing theory in action.
- Réti composed the celebrated endgame study where a king “outruns” pawns on opposite wings—an illustration of geometry that parallels the opening’s spatial concepts.
Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack
Definition
The Nimzowitsch–Larsen Attack (ECO codes A01–A02) is the flank opening characterized by 1. b3. Pioneered by Aron Nimzowitsch and later popularized by Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen in the 1960s–70s, it aims to fianchetto the queen-side bishop and exert immediate pressure on the central light squares, particularly e5.
Key Ideas and Typical Continuations
- 1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3: White eyes Bb5, d2-d4, or Nf3 while the bishop influences the long diagonal.
- 1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Be7: Play can transpose into Queen’s Indian–like structures with colors reversed.
- Double Fianchetto Setup: 1. b3 followed by g3 and Bg2, echoing Réti and English themes but keeping Black guessing.
Strategic Significance
- Immediate piece pressure: The bishop on b2 eyes g7 and e5, discouraging Black from aggressive central occupation.
- Under-appreciated surprise value: Many players have less theoretical knowledge of 1. b3 systems, making it a practical weapon.
- Flexibility: White can switch plans—d2-d4 for central tension, f2-f4 for a Stonewall-style grip, or c2-c4 for English structures.
Historical Anecdotes
- Bent Larsen scored several spectacular victories with 1. b3, including wins against World Champions Spassky (Belgrade 1970) and Petrosian (Moscow 1971).
- Fischer famously used 1. b3 to demolish Reuben Fine in a 1963 exhibition blitz, joking afterwards, “It’s all theory!”
- The opening saw a renaissance when GM Baadur Jobava employed it in top-level tournaments, adding swashbuckling ideas like early Nc3-e4-Qh5.
Illustrative Game Fragment
Modern Usage
Grandmasters such as Richard Rapport, Magnus Carlsen, and Alireza Firouzja occasionally adopt 1. b3 in rapid and blitz, valuing the imbalance it creates. Engines assess the position as roughly equal but rich in opportunities for creative play.
Typical Tactics and Themes
- Exchange sacrifice on f6: Bb5 captures Nf6 after ...e5 structures, doubling Black’s pawns and opening the e-file.
- Central pawn roller: After d2-d4 and e3-e4, White may launch pawns to seize space while the b2 bishop supports from behind.
- Greek-Gift-style attacks: With bishops on b2 and d3, sacrifices on h7/h2 become thematic, exploiting diagonal pressure.
Notable Games to Study
- Larsen vs. Spassky, Belgrade 1970 – A positional squeeze culminating in a queen sacrifice.
- Larsen vs. Petrosian, Moscow 1971 – Demonstrates central control and light-square domination.
- Carlsen vs. Karjakin, Norway Blitz 2019 – Illustrates modern move-order tricks with 1. b3.
Fun Facts
- Larsen humorously referred to 1. b3 as “my little Danish cheese”—mild but potentially lethal if mishandled.
- The opening’s nickname “The Orangutan” is sometimes (incorrectly) applied; that actually belongs to 1. b4.
- In computer chess, engines often rate the initial position after 1. b3 as only 0.20–0.30 in White’s favor, yet human opponents frequently falter under its unfamiliarity.