8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

1. Nf3

Shown from White's side. ECO A04.

Opening guide · an opening for White

Réti Opening and 1. Nf3

The move 1. Nf3 is called the Zukertort Opening, and after 1...d5 2. c4 it becomes the Réti Opening. White develops a knight, stops ...e5 and keeps every pawn structure available. The game often transposes to the English Opening, the Queen's Gambit or the King's Indian Attack, depending on what both players choose next.

Games in our sample
66,092
White wins
49.4%
Draws
4.6%
Black wins
45.9%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How Réti Opening and 1. Nf3 scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10005,8402.6%46.7%4.8%48.5%
1000 to 11996,7652.1%48.6%3.7%47.7%
1200 to 13998,7821.9%48.6%3.5%47.9%
1400 to 159910,9681.8%49.0%3.8%47.3%
1600 to 179911,8851.8%49.7%4.1%46.2%
1800 to 199910,7652.1%51.0%4.9%44.1%
2000 to 21997,2162.8%51.8%5.8%42.4%
2200 and over3,8713.4%49.0%9.4%41.6%
All ratings66,0922.1%49.4%4.6%45.9%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of Réti Opening and 1. Nf3 that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Tennison Gambit

    1. e4 d5 2. Nf3

    14,131 games · White 46.6% · draws 3.5% · Black 49.9%

    Analyse this position
  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Sicilian Invitation

    1. Nf3 c5

    4,468 games · White 48.3% · draws 5.4% · Black 46.3%

    Analyse this position
  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Black Mustang Defense

    1. Nf3 Nc6

    4,435 games · White 49.7% · draws 5.0% · Black 45.3%

    Analyse this position
  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Queen's Gambit Invitation

    1. Nf3 e6

    4,168 games · White 50.5% · draws 4.9% · Black 44.6%

    Analyse this position
  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Pirc Invitation

    1. Nf3 d6

    3,476 games · White 50.5% · draws 4.8% · Black 44.6%

    Analyse this position
  • 8a7b6c5d4e3f2g1h

    Kingside Fianchetto

    1. Nf3 g6

    3,317 games · White 49.6% · draws 4.4% · Black 45.9%

    Analyse this position

Ideas for White

  • Stay flexible: c4, g3 and d4 are all in reserve.
  • In the Réti, attack d5 from the flank with c4 and a bishop on g2.

Ideas for Black

  • 1...d5 and 1...Nf6 are the most common replies, and either can lead to mainstream queen's pawn positions.

Questions

What are the moves of Réti Opening and 1. Nf3?
1. Nf3. In the ECO classification it is filed under A04.
How does Réti Opening and 1. Nf3 score?
In 66,092 games with it in our sample, White won 49.4%, 4.6% were drawn and Black won 45.9%.
At which ratings is Réti Opening and 1. Nf3 played most?
Among players rated 2200 and over it is 3.4% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 1.8%, is among players rated 1400 to 1599.
Which line of Réti Opening and 1. Nf3 is played most?
Zukertort Opening: Tennison Gambit (1. e4 d5 2. Nf3), with 14,131 games in our sample.

Related openings