11/09/2020 Monday Night Chess Club in Snowmass Base Village

"For in the idea of chess and development of the chess mind we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of mankind ." /Richard Reti/"

LESSON OF THE DAY: Reti’s Opening

This is usually a pretty quiet way to start the game. The knight develops to a good square, and White maintains the flexibility of the central pawns. A later d2-d4 move may transpose to a 1.d4 opening (while avoiding certain lines), while a later c2-c4 move might transpose to the English.

Pros:

Flexible

Controls e5

Prepares to Castle

Cons:

Blocks the f-pawn

Allows 1…c5, controlling the d4 square from the side

Reti’s Idea

https://lichess.org/study/ox3AaEPx

Is Black winning in this position? White to move next.

Reti Opening Moves

1.Nf3 d5

2.C4

Black’s responses to 2. c4

2... e6 or 2… c6 (holding the d5-point)

2… dxc4 (giving up the d5-point)

2… d4 (pushing the pawn)

https://lichess.org/study/rVN9SV5B

Reti’s Opening – Typical Chess Tactics

1.https://lichess.org/study/iowvSj05

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2.https://lichess.org/study/iRqP8u37

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3.https://lichess.org/study/S2ldUkvZ

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4.https://lichess.org/study/FqHrbDOz

Immortal Chess Game

Richard Reti vs Jose Raul Capablanca

“A Knight in Capablanca” New York (1924), NY

English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King’s Indian Formation

https://lichess.org/MzzMkRVk

Attacking the King

https://www.chess.com/lessons/attacking-the-king-1