Reti: Santasiere's folly

Réti Opening: Santasiere’s Folly (ECO A04)

Definition

“Santasiere’s Folly” is an off-beat gambit line of the Réti Opening that begins 1. Nf3 d5 2. b4!? It is named after the colourful U.S. master and author Anthony (Tony) Santasiere, who loved imaginative pawn sacrifices and vibrant piece play. In classical terminology the move 2.b4 is considered a “wing gambit” because White immediately tries to pry open lines on the queenside by offering the b-pawn.

Typical Move-order

      1. Nf3 d5
      2. b4!?   (Réti: Santasiere’s Folly)
      2… e6 / Nf6 / Bg4
      3. a3, Bb2, or c4 depending on Black’s reply
    

The line can also arise from 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b4!? or even 1. b4 d5 2. Nf3 (transposing from the Polish/Orang-Utan Opening).

Strategic Ideas

• Pawn Sacrifice for Initiative: If Black accepts with 2…e6 3.a3 Bxb4, White gains tempi by attacking the bishop with 4.axb4 and later c2-c3, driving it again.
• Rapid Development: White fianchettoes the dark-squared bishop to b2, eyes g7 and d4, and often follows with e3, c4, Nc3, and Qb3.
• Queenside Space: Even when the pawn is not sacrificed (Black declines with …Nf6), the advance b4–b5 may cramp Black’s queenside and prepare c4.
• Psychological Weapon: Early surprise value in blitz and rapid; many opponents meet 2.b4 for the first time over the board.

Historical Background

Anthony Santasiere (1904-1977) was four-time U.S. Open Champion and a prolific chess columnist. His flamboyant style produced numerous original opening ideas; the 2.b4 gambit in the Réti was one of his favourites and quickly became known as “Santasiere’s Folly”—part affectionate joke, part warning to the unprepared.

Despite the self-deprecating nickname, the line is sound enough for practical play. Modern engines give roughly equal chances, especially if Black greedily grabs the pawn.

Model Game

Anthony Santasiere – I.A. Horowitz, U.S. Open 1945 (shortened for illustration)

[[Pgn| Nf3|d5|b4|Nf6|Bb2|e6|a3|c5|e3|Nc6|c4|d4|b5|Na5|exd4|cxd4||]]

White’s 13th move b5! drove the knight to a5, and after exd4 cxd4 the long diagonal exploded, giving Santasiere lasting pressure that eventually decided the game.

How It Is Used Today

• Surprise Weapon: Seen occasionally in faster time controls by grandmasters such as Baadur Jobava and Richard Rapport.
• Online Blitz: Popular among streamers for its fun factor and tactical traps.
• Transpositional Tool: Can steer play into English- or Catalan-style middlegames once White recovers the pawn.

Key Lines for Both Sides

1. 2…e6 3.a3 Bxb4 4.axb4 Nf6 5.e3
   White has the bishop pair and open a- and b-files; Black tries …O-O, …b6, and …Bb7 to neutralise the pressure.
2. 2…Nf6 3.Bb2 e6 4.a3 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.c4
   A quieter, strategic version where the pawn is not sacrificed.
3. 2…Bg4 3.Ne5 Bf5 4.c4 f6 5.Nf3 e5
   A sharp line in which both sides fight for the centre; accurate play is required because the b-pawn is still en prise.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The epithet “Folly” was coined by Santasiere himself in My Love Affair with Tactics—he relished quirky names and believed chess should be “a poet’s delight.”
• Despite its rare appearance in classical tournaments, the line received an ECO code (A04), giving it “official” theoretical status.
• Grandmaster Henrique Mecking reportedly used 2.b4 in a simultaneous exhibition, scoring 90 % against masters who expected a mainstream Réti.
• Modern engines suggest the immediate 2…Bg4! as Black’s most precise response, illustrating that Santasiere’s romanticism still challenges theory-minded players.

Practical Tips

• If you play it as White, memorise the basic pawn-sac line (…e6 Bxb4 axb4) and know how to exploit the open a- and b-files.
• As Black, decide early whether to grab the pawn or decline. Accepting demands accurate defence; declining allows White comfortable space.
• In blitz, time saved on theory often outweighs the objective evaluation—embrace the initiative!

Summary

Réti: Santasiere’s Folly is the chess embodiment of creative risk-taking: a modest knight develop­ment followed by an audacious flank pawn thrust. While it may not dethrone mainstream openings, it offers rich, unbalanced positions and a dash of historical romance—perfect for the adventurous player armed with a basic grasp of its ideas.