Réti Opening · A12

Anglo-Slav Variation, Capablanca Variation, after 5. e3

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 Bg4 5. e3

White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal. Nf3 and c4 attack d5 with pieces and the flank pawn while the centre pawns wait - hypermodern control now, central strikes later.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the English Opening.
• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Anglo-Indian Defense.
• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.

Sign in to read every move's note and train this line — 5 more moves in this line, 9 in all.