1.Nf3 Are you Reti for the action?! 1...d5 At first, we analyze all Black's options after1...d5, which is definitely the most popular move. 2.g3 This is the move we play against 1...d5,1...c5 and1...Nf6. Against everything else we have to adjust, which means you should always pay attention to your rival's first moves in the opening! 2...c5 Firstly, we take a look at the most ambitious idea for Black. Our opponent placed the pawns on the most active squares and is ready to grab even more space in the centre. 3.Bg2Nc6 The positions that we will analyze can arise from different move orders. I decided this and the next two lines starting with3...Nc6, because the Knight always belongs on c6 in these lines, while the other moves are unclear at the moment. 4.d4! This is one of the reasons why we never play on autopilot in the opening. 4.d3e5 is playable and is just a Reversed King's Indian, but Black can never be worse with so much space and has more than ten different setups that guarantee him a good game. The most unpleasant one to face is5.O-OBe7!? and now after6.e4, Black plays6...d47.a4h5! planning ... h4 with attacking chances. Not only Black is not worse, but it is White who has to be extremely careful. After4.d4, we enter the Reversed Grunfeld territory. 4...cxd4 The Reversed Grunfeld Accepted is one of the main options for our opponent. Still, an extra tempo should be a huge benefit that allows White to fight for the advantage. Note that our rival doesn't have the luxury to pick whatever he wants as against the proper Grunfeld. Here, we are a tempo up and something like4...Bg4?5.c4! is already highly beneficial for White. One point is that the desired5...dxc4? runs into6.d5! and Black is on the verge of defeat after only 6 moves. The other option is 5...e6 but after6.cxd5exd57.Nc3 is an excellent Tarrasch, with the Black Bishop prematurely developed to g4. 5.Nxd4e5 The most common move in this position, grabbing the whole centre, but it is a double-edged sword because the seemingly impressive pawn formation can easily become a target. What we have on the board is the Reversed Grunfeld mainline, but we are a full tempo up. I think it is a good start to fight for the opening advantage. 6.Nxc6bxc67.c4 Once again, we see this pattern of striking with c4 before castling. Sometimes the move order doesn't matter, but here, it is key. If you play7.O-O?!, then Black has7...Be6 followed by putting the Rook on c8 or even more problematic7.O-OBc58.c4Ne7. We can avoid both of those lines by playing7.c4 first. Black has plenty of ways how to deal with the central pressure, but only two of them are decent. 7...Nf6 Not the most popular move, but it is Black's best try. 7...Bb4+? is amazingly the most common try, but after8.Nc3d4 White has9.a3! with the point9...Ba510.Bxc6+Bd711.Qa4!dxc312.Bxd7+Qxd713.Qxa5 with a completely winning position. 8.O-O Note that this position might arise via a few move orders, so I decided to offer8.O-O as the mainline.8.Bg5 is also possible. 8...Be6 The most popular and by far the best move. Black defends the pawn in the most standard way and is ready to continue with ... Rc8 to step out of the pin. 9.Qa4 This is my chosen move order because it limits Black's options. There is only one move that guarantees Black a good game. 9.Nc3 will usually transpose to the position after Black's 12th move, but Black has the luxury of picking either9...Rc8 or9...Qd7. 9...Qd7 A mandatory move. Black is forced to defend against cxd5. 10.Nc3 The next moves are more or less forced for both sides. 10...Rc8! The only move to get a playable game. Since Black is ready to continue with ... d4, it is necessary to force matters. 11.cxd5 11.Bg5 allows11...d4! with counterplay. 11...cxd512.Qxd7+Kxd713.Rd1⩲ Black managed to avoid immediate disaster, but White is still in the driver's seat. Black has to find a series of forced moves starting with unnatural13...Bc5! to land in a still unpleasant position for our mighty opponent.