Do whatever you like and find inspiring of course, but combining a low-theory Reti repertoire with a full Sicilian repertoire (even if it's "Antis") does seem a bit illogical. 

Especially if 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 is already in the repertoire - surely 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 can't be that much extra work? One big extra option Black gains with the latter move is aiming for the Maroczy Bind, where you could for instance adopt Heine Nielsen's repertoire with an early Nc2 from Experts vs the Sicilian, also covered quite well in Greet's Starting Out: The Accelerated Dragon.

If you absolutely want to avoid the Maroczy, maybe 1.Nf3 c5 2.b3, which receives a little bit of coverage in both the Nimzo-Larsen books I have (Lakdawala and Jacobs/Tait). Typically Black either transposes to ...d5 lines (reversed Nimzo-/Queen's Indian) or tries to set up a centre with ...Nc6/...d6/...e5. A Hedgehog setup must also be possible.

Two good sources to quickly get started with the Symmetrical English (with Nf3) for White are Play the English by Pritchett and A Strategic Opening Repertoire for White by Donaldson and Hansen. But if you're a strong player and/or want more theory, you should look at sources like Marin, Wojo's Weapons and ChessPublishing, of course.

CanadianClub wrote on 10/08/15 at 08:30:31:


I asked a similar question in the Anti-Sicilian Bb5 thread http://www.chesspub.com/cgi-bin/chess/YaBB.pl?num=1239027581/0 see Reply #13 onwards.
I have not finished looking at 3 g3. I just finished entering the games in SCID vs PC today. Will now have to analyse the middle game and also answer the question whether it is similar to KIA a la Gawain Jones.
On a very brief look as I was entering the games, Kornev's explanations are not bad. He is also very thematic, he wants to push d4 in one go soonest possible, and most suggested improvements he has are quite active, e.g., g4, Bf4, Rd1(support d4 push).
Also the games in database are very recent, 2010 onwards. Used by lower rated players to get a draw and occasionally a win. Young US player Jeffrey Xiong has used it.
Middlegames are either playing against IQPs (Black) or 3-pawns majority against  2-pawns on Q-side, similar to c3 Anti-Sicilian (see Sveshnikov's book which has a chapter on this motif).
I think not too hard to learn, ideas not too difficult to absorbed and implement.
Only not sure it is "sharp" enough, but then you are wanting to play the Reti as a 2nd opening.
PS, I am hoping to look at Peter Svidler's recent game at the World Cup and his demolition of Karjakin …… that was a Barcza/KIA/Reti, I think.

Up! 

I am trying to put in practice Alejandro's reccomendations. As a complement to my solid d4 repertoire; a kind of 2nd weapon to play here and there (mainly in events where I know the organizers are going to publish the games in chess-results or similar).

First impressions are good in blitz games against KID players (everybody goes for d6+e5 setups where White has en edge, and most important: a clear path of action). And is very good too against d4-d5 players of NID ones, entering in good Catalan positions thanks to delaying my d4 push.

But...what do you play against c5? As a 1.d4 player this bothers me the most. I thought even study some anti-silicilans and go for 2.e4 (Bb5 sicilians and 3.g3 vs e6 sicilians, but I think I am going to surprise anybody with this; and if this repertoire is to get playable middlegames, I assume I will have less experience than my Silicilian opponent whith this). Another option, of course, is go for symmetrical English (a line I have to study anyway because of 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5).

Any other line or setup againt this quick c5 by Black? Any good source to get a quick view of that lines from a White perspective? Maybe Marin trilogy on the English, of Wojo 3rd volume.....

Thx,

Benoniac wrote on 08/21/13 at 17:45:18:

I remember that, but I think I made a stupid one move blunder in an equal position in the opening. Still, this variation doesn't offer White any real advantage, for sure, but it leads to positions that Reti players will feel comfortable with.

Benoniac wrote on 08/21/13 at 17:45:18:


1. Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 is not my favourite, but it's a decent sideline with a good pedigree. Your line Bg7 4. Bb2  O-O 5. g3 d6 6.Bg2 c5 is no doubt playable, but why "with a good game"? Please explain your reasoning. 

6...c5 is somewhat 'unprincipled'. After an exchange on c5, for instance, White has an extra central pawn, so there is surely something to play with. 

And I'm sure it's not too hard to find improvements in Tony's game! 

Yeah, I'm really disappointed he went with this b4 idea against the KID. 
In my experience everyone goes 1. Nf3  Nf6 2. c4   g6
3. b4   Bg7 4. Bb2  O-O 5. g3   d6 6. Bg2  c5 with a good game. 

This kind of reminds of another problem (present also in Ramirez' last DVD) of authors ignoring the English move order of 1.c4 e5/c5 2. g3 ...instead looking at 2.Nc3 or even Nf3. Why do they do this?

I filtered the database and didn't find c5 covered, only e5 in the Kid structure.

What he covers against the KID? a b3 fianchetto?

"The Nimzo-Indian, the Gruenfeld and the King’s Indian Defence are three incredibly uncomfortable defences to meet. This hypermodern DVD gives new ideas on how to squash these setups with sound, positional play based on double fianchetto systems. " from the CB description