The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire

The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire

By Alexander Delchev

Chess Stars, 2012

ISBN: 9789548782876

Yes, we have yet another opening book with the word ‘Modern’ in the title.

It gets around quite a bit in the chess world that word, that’s for sure, since Steinitz first used it over a century ago. Here, however, the sobriquet seems to be warranted. Without doubt, it is deployed to good purpose.

For Alexander Delchev discloses key details of the analytical work he undertook when preparing Antoaneta Stefanova for the FIDE Grand Prix in 2010.  And on this evidence, it looks like the work was both extensive and fruitful. Within the book, the suggestions and analyses are fresh and fascinating, and have up until now been confidential – for Stefanova’s eyes only – so one cannot really quibble with the title too much.

The book sets out a repertoire for White following the moves 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 and now:

• There is the option of a bayonet attack should Black plumb for a Slav set-up (2…c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bb2 0-0).  White can go 8.Rg1 intending 9.g4, though the much quieter 8.Be2 is also possible. Delchev covers both these options in considerable detail, which goes some way to explaining the subtitle. Slav players, we are out to get you!
• A double fianchetto is Delchev’s favoured response to 2…e6, arising usually like this: 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3… Every game cannot be a slugfest.
• If 2…dxc4, White goes 3.e3 and develops as in the Queen’s Gambit Accepted (with Bxc4, 0-0, Qe2, Rd1 and so on) although with the quirk that he delays or even does without d4. I like Delchev’s approach here very much. Unorthodox but solid.
• Probably Black’s best response is 2…d4, taking the opportunity to gain space in the centre.  In The Dynamic Reti (2004), Nigel Davies recommends 3.g3 with a reversed Benoni set-up.  This is how Bent Larsen played the position and Jon Speelman has played this way in the past also. I have too, for what that is worth: it is a straightforward option, very low-maintenance.  As for Delchev, he devotes a large amount of attention and analysis to two complex gambit lines: 3.e3 Nc6 4.b4!? and the (at first sight slightly perplexing) sequence 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.Bc4.  Now on 7…axb4 8.Nxe5 can follow, with complications which may not necessarily favour White. See Reinhold Thiele’s analysis here. I am not sure what to make of this, to be honest. White could easily lose his way.

All in all, this is an excellent, well thought out opening book, which presents Black with some new and pressing problems in attaining equality against the Reti.

A sample from The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire can be read here.

You’ll need to scroll down for a little while, but the publisher’s description of The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire can be found here.