Sicilian: O'Kelly Variation & Réti System

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation

Definition

The O’Kelly Variation is a branch of the Sicilian Defense that arises after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6. The early …a6 is attributed to Belgian chess-player Albéric O’Kelly de Galway (World Correspondence Champion, 1956 – 1959). Instead of developing a knight to c6 or playing …d6, Black prevents White’s minor pieces from occupying b5 and keeps several Sicilian set-ups in reserve.

Typical Ideas & Usage

• Flexibility: By not committing the kingside knight (…Nc6) or pawn structure (…e6/…d6) too early, Black can transpose into Scheveningen, Paulsen, or even Najdorf-style positions depending on White’s reply.
• Queenside Space: The pawn on a6 lays groundwork for …b5, gaining space and preparing a fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop in some lines.
• Psychological Weapon: Many e4-players expect mainstream Sicilians and may have less experience versus the O’Kelly’s subtleties.
• Sidestepping Open Sicilian Theory: After 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4, Black has the option 4…Nf6 5. Nc3 e5, steering play away from the massive Najdorf theory trees.

Main Branches

1. 3. d4 (Open Sicilian attempt) 3…cxd4 4. Nxd4
   • 4…Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 – leads to an offbeat Najdorf-type with the knight on f6 instead of c6.
   • 4…e5 5. Nb3 (Flohr Line).
2. 3. c3 (Alapin-style) 3…d5! challenges the center immediately.
3. 3. c4 (Closed set-up) retards d4 and accepts a Maroczy Bind structure after …Nc6.
4. 3. g3 aiming for a King’s Indian Attack formation.

Strategic Themes for Both Sides

• White:
  • Rapid central occupation with d4.
  • Using the b5 square for a knight or bishop if Black omits …a6.
  • Transposing into well-known Anti-Sicilians (Alapin, Closed Sicilian, KIA) to exploit early …a6.
• Black:
  • Counter-punching in the center with …d5 or …e5.
  • Queenside expansion via …b5, …Bb7.
  • Delaying …Nc6 to keep the d-pawn flexible (…d6 or …d5).

Illustrative Mini-Game

Below is a concise sample line showing typical ideas.

After 7…d5 Black strikes back in the center while the bishop pins the c3-knight, illustrating the thematic counterplay.

Historical & Anecdotal Notes

• The variation occurred in Fischer – Bisguier, U.S. Championship 1962, where Fischer employed 3. c3 and won a model game in 31 moves.
• O’Kelly himself used the line successfully at the 1956 Amsterdam Interzonal, convincing many grandmasters of its soundness.
• The move 2…a6 mirrors the famous Najdorf (2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6), but here it appears one tempo earlier, making the opening something of a “pre-Najdorf.”

Réti System

Definition

The Réti System is a flexible, hypermodern opening scheme introduced by Grandmaster Richard Réti in the early 1920s. Instead of immediate occupation of the center with pawns, White controls it from afar with pieces, typically beginning with 1. Nf3 followed by 2. c4. Because the system can arise against many Black set-ups, it is often described as a “system” rather than a single opening.

Core Move-Order

Typical starting point:

From here, transpositions can lead to the English Opening, Catalan, King’s Indian Attack, or pure Réti lines with fianchettoed bishops.

Strategic Significance

• Hypermodern Principle: White invites Black to occupy the center with pawns, planning later strikes with pawn breaks (cxd5, d4, or e4) and piece pressure.
• Transpositional Weapon: By delaying d4, White can steer the game away from well-prepared Queen’s Gambit or Indian Defense theory and choose the most favorable transition.
• Fianchetto Power: The Réti bishop on g2 exerts long-range pressure on the central and queenside dark squares.
• Endgame Edge: Many Réti structures yield a small but nagging positional pull— the so-called “Réti squeeze”—based on superior minor-piece activity and pawn breaks.

Main Plans

1. Classical Réti (with g3 & Bg2): After 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4, White fianchettoes the kingside bishop. Breaks with d4 or Qa4+ are common.
2. Réti vs. Slav Set-ups: 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 transforms into a reversed Grünfeld if White later plays d4.
3. Anti-Dutch: 1. Nf3 f5 2. d3!? or 2. g3 sidesteps main-line Dutch preparation while retaining Réti flexibility.
4. Anglo-Slav Mix: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 leads to positions akin to the Slav but with colors reversed pressure.

Illustrative Game Excerpt

The famous Réti – Capablanca, New York 1924 was the first tournament game ever won against then-World-Champion José Raúl Capablanca.

Réti’s hypermodern play allowed him to recapture in the center and steer the game into a favorable endgame, ultimately winning after 31 moves.

Usage Tips

• Keep move-order tricks in mind: play Nf3 before c4 to avoid the symmetrical 1…c5 lines if undesired.
• Against …d5 structures, be ready to strike with e4 or d4 after sufficient development.
• Do not rush d2-d4; often maintaining tension is the very point of the opening.
• If Black neglects kingside safety, quick h4-h5 pushes can appear, especially in blitz play.

Interesting Facts

• Réti used his system to defeat World Champion Alexander Alekhine in Baden-Baden 1925, proving its strength against the very best.
• Magnus Carlsen frequently employs Réti-type move-orders to sidestep heavy preparation—see Carlsen – Caruana, London 2012, where he converted a microscopic edge into a win.
• The famous Réti endgame study (king catching two pawns at once) reflects the same hypermodern belief: pieces (or king!) can influence the board from a distance.