How to beat the 1.Nf3 (Zukertort & Réti)

1.Nf3 is flexible and keeps options open for d4, c4 or a King's Indian Attack. In our data it was the opening where titled players scored worst as Black. Easy to play, hard to prepare for.

Three plans that work

1. Answer with ...d5 and claim the centre

1...d5 lets you build a classical centre. Against an early c4 (the Réti), ...d4 or ...c6 keeps it.

2. Know where you want to transpose

Most 1.Nf3 games become a d4 opening, an English or a King's Indian Attack. Pick your target structure against each.

3. Look at what this player plays on move 2

1.Nf3 players are often loyal to one system. Their move 2 tells you which one.

A line to play

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.O-O Bg4

The pitfall

Mirroring White without a plan leads to the long manoeuvring games 1.Nf3 players love.

What the data says

In 1,302 recent games of the top 100 titled Lichess players featuring the 1.Nf3 (Zukertort & Réti), they scored 62% on average. Players who use it most: GM ARM-777777 (36%), IM hibyehwa (59%), GM chess-art-us (87%), IM YZL2012 (62%), IM Mishka_The_Great (50%), GM indianstar (55%), FM GoFar (53%), GM MahammadMuradli2003 (88%).

Prepare against the actual player

Averages only go so far. A 1.Nf3 (Zukertort & Réti) player has their own pet variations and weak spots. Before your next game, get a free fingerprint of your opponent, or get the full prep report ($5): every variation they play, where they score worst, and a game plan for both colours.