Openings · A09

Réti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4

752 master games · White 43% · Draws 33% · Black 24%

ECO code
A09
Moves
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4
Family
Réti Opening
To move
Black
Master games
752
Average game length
43 moves
Years covered
1923–2026

Réti Opening is the opening filed under ECO code A09, reached after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. It belongs to the Réti Opening family; in the resulting position it is Black to move.

Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 752 games on this line — the 141st most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1923 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 304 games. An average game here lasts 43 moves.

White wins 43% of those games, 33% end in a draw, and Black wins 24%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 4 percentage points.

From this position the most popular move is 2...e6, played in 276 games, followed by 2...c6 (204) and 2...d4 (202). After 2...e6 White scores 46% and Black 18%.

The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Erigaisi,Arjun (85 games); on the Black side, Shirov,A (29).

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Results in master games

  • White 43% (322)
  • Draws 33% (248)
  • Black 24% (182)

Most played continuations

MoveGames White / draws / BlackLeads into
2...e6 276 46/36/18 —
2...c6 204 41/37/22 —
2...d4 202 41/24/35 —
2...dxc4 59 32/37/31 —
2...Nf6 11 55/45/0 —

How the position is reached

Played most often by

As White

  • Erigaisi,Arjun 85
  • Caruana,F 45
  • Kortschnoj, Viktor 26

As Black

  • Shirov,A 29
  • So,W 22
  • Nakamura,Hi 18

Games per decade

  • 1920s 26
  • 1930s 38
  • 1940s 9
  • 1950s 14
  • 1960s 37
  • 1970s 33
  • 1980s 60
  • 1990s 31
  • 2000s 50
  • 2010s 150
  • 2020s 304

Master games on this line

WhiteBlack ResultYearEvents
Caruana,FDuda,J 1/2-1/22026 GCT Super Rapid Poland
Erigaisi,ArjunCahaya,Satria Duta 1-02026 3rd 3-0 Thu 26th Feb 2026
Caruana,FDuda,J 1-02026 GCT Super Blitz Poland
Erigaisi,ArjunDeac,Bogdan-Daniel 1-02026 3rd 3-0 Thu 12th Mar 2026
Erigaisi,ArjunBok,B 0-12026 3rd 3-0 Thu 5th Mar 2026
Caruana,FNakamura,Hi 1-02026 FIDE Candidates 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the Réti Opening?

It is the opening with ECO code A09, reached after 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4. It belongs to the Réti Opening family.

Is the Réti Opening good for White or for Black?

In 752 master games on this line White wins 43%, 33% are drawn and Black wins 24%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.

What is the main continuation of the Réti Opening?

2...e6 — played in 276 of the master games on this line.

Which grandmasters play the Réti Opening?

On the White side Erigaisi,Arjun (85), Caruana,F (45), Kortschnoj, Viktor (26); on the Black side Shirov,A (29), So,W (22), Nakamura,Hi (18).

Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).

Try this line on the board

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