Reti for White - Fundamental Structures after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 

Opening Builder – Réti for White: Fundamental Structures after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3

The Second Step of a Long-Term Project

The Opening Builder – Réti for White: Fundamental Structures after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 is the second part of our six-month Réti project. It continues the work started in the first course, which focused on the structures after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3.

This part addresses what happens when Black avoids …d5 and goes for the most popular modern setups: the Queen's Gambit Declined, the Queen's Indian Defence, and the Hedgehog.

The material is based on the camp of the same name and is now transformed into a complete digital product. It includes full video recordings of all lectures, a structured PGN file that follows the logic of the training sessions, and additional model games and theoretical examples for further study.

The principle remains the same as in the first course: build understanding first, then add concrete preparation.

What This Course Teaches

The course covers the entire setup after:

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3

From here, Black has three principal ways to develop:

• The QGD setup with …d5 and …Be7
• The Queen's Indian with …b6 and …Bb7
• The Hedgehog with …c5, …b6, …d6 and …Be7

For each of these, the course offers a complete repertoire built around a small number of central ideas, not long memorized variations. The goal is to reach positions where the plans are clear, the pawn structures are familiar, and the practical task is to outplay an opponent who is less prepared in the resulting structures.

Lecture 1 – The QGD Setup with 6.Ne5

The first lecture introduces our weapon against the Queen's Gambit Declined setup:

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.Ne5

This is a fresh and practical alternative to the more common 6.d4 and 6.b3, both of which Black is usually well prepared against. 6.Ne5 opens the diagonal of the Catalan bishop, increases pressure on d5, defends the c4-pawn, and prepares rapid development with d4, Nc3, and Bf4.

The lecture is built around the two main pawn structures that arise after 6…Nbd7 7.d4 c6 8.Nc3 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.cxd5:

• Structures with 10…cxd5 – where White sacrifices a pawn with 11.e4! and obtains a long-lasting initiative thanks to better development and the passive c8-bishop
• Structures with 10…exd5 11.f4 – where the game becomes strategic and revolves around the e4 break, the manoeuvre Be3–Bf2, and the activity of the Catalan bishop

The chapter on each structure presents the model games in a clear logical order: from the simplest practical handling to the deeper engine-approved lines.

Lecture 2 – The Flexible 6.d3

The second lecture covers the second pillar of our repertoire:

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d3

6.d3 is the most flexible move at White's disposal. It preserves the option of e4 under favourable circumstances, prepares prophylactically against …Nbd7, and very often transposes back to the 6.Ne5 lines from Lecture 1.

The lecture covers Black's main responses in turn:

• 6…b6 – the classical structure with cxd5 exd5 d4 and Bf4
• The …Nxc3 sub-structure – where the bxc3 pawn strengthens our centre and opens the b-file
• The …Bf5 attempt – Black tries to develop the bishop outside the pawn chain
• The …c6 Reversed Torre – neutralised by Qc2 and the b4–c5 expansion plan
• The Open Centre with …Nxd5 – another well-known try, handled by careful piece play
• 6…c5 – which transposes back to the 6.Ne5 territory, including the important …Qc7 main line

Combined with Lecture 1, these two move orders form a complete, computer-approved system against Black's QGD setup.

Lecture 3 – The Queen's Indian Defence with 7.Re1

The third lecture turns to the Queen's Indian Defence:

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Re1

7.Re1 is both the most ambitious and the most flexible move in this critical position. It serves two strategic purposes simultaneously: it prepares Nc3 and e4 (the central plan), and it enables the powerful tactical resource Ng5! whenever Black answers Nc3 with …Ne4 – because the e2-pawn is now protected.

The lecture systematically covers every meaningful black setup:

• Allowing e4 – the model treatment of the c4–d4–e4 central formation
• The Ng5 tactic – after …d6 or …Re8 followed by …Ne4
• Benoni structures – after 7…c5, met by 8.d5 and the favourable exchange of dark-squared bishops
• The …c6 setup – met by 8.e4 d5 9.e5 and 10.h4
• 7…Qc8 – met by Nc3, Bd2 and the d5 break
• 7…a5 – the modern try, where Black's typical …Na5 counterplay against c4 no longer works
• 7…Ne4 – Black's objectively best move, met by 8.Qc2 and 9.Rd1
• 7…Na6 – Tiviakov's flexible setup, met by 8.h4! and a universal treatment
• 7…d5 – the direct approach, where the Bf4 setup from earlier lectures returns

This lecture is the most theory-rich of the course and includes a comprehensive reference game covering all important sub-variations.

Lecture 4 – The Hedgehog

The final lecture addresses one of the most important pawn structures in chess: the Hedgehog.

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O c5 6.Nc3

The repertoire is built around the Anderson System, the strategic approach developed by Ulf Andersson and refined over decades. The course covers the historical evolution of the Hedgehog move orders, explains why each refinement was made, and then presents the modern handling.

The decision tree against Black's various tries:

• Early …d6 – handled with the b3/Bb2 system, Nxd4 (exploiting the weak c6-square), and kingside expansion with g4–g5–h4–h5–h6
• 9…Nc6 – met with Sindarov's 13.g4! refutation, gaining kingside space in the endgame
• 9…Qc8 – met with 10.Bf4! and the concrete 11.Nb5 break
• 9…d6 after castling – met with the surprising 13.Qh4! and the exchange-sacrifice idea Rxd7
• The main line 7…Be7 followed by …d6 – handled with the Anderson plan: 10.Bg5!, the key Ne4 tabiya, then the famous Nd4–Rd2–Qb1–e3–a4–Qa2–b4–b5 sequence

The chapter on the Anderson System includes the original masterpieces (Andersson–Grünfeld, Andersson–Seirawan, Andersson–Langeweg, Andersson–Browne) alongside modern examples by Carlsen, Meier, Georgiev, Svane and others. The Anderson plan still works at the highest level today.

A Structured Learning System

The strength of the course lies in its structure. The PGN file follows exactly the logic of the lectures and is organized chapter by chapter, with each model game placed in the position where it best illustrates the structural idea.

Every chapter opens with a clear introduction explaining what the chapter covers and why each model game has been chosen. The model games themselves carry detailed annotations on the critical decisions. Theoretical reference games at the end of each lecture provide the concrete sub-variations for deeper study.

The result is a course that can be studied in three ways: by reading the structural introductions for the strategic overview, by playing through the model games for pattern recognition, or by working through the reference games for full theoretical preparation.

Part of a Larger Project

This course is the second step of the six-month Opening Builder project. The first part covered the structures after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3. This part covers everything that follows 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3. The next parts will continue to add layers to the repertoire, building toward a complete system grounded in the same principles: clarity of plans, mastery of pawn structures, and long-term improvement through understanding.

Improvement in chess is not random. It is structured, cumulative, and systematic. Each part of the Opening Builder is designed to add a stable layer to your repertoire and to your general strategic understanding.

SAMPLE EXAMPLE