Réti Opening, Anglo-Slav Variation

The Anglo-Slav Variation arises when Black builds pawns on c6 and d5 against a Réti or English move order. The c6-pawn supports d5 and creates a solid structure. White, meanwhile, normally keeps the d-pawn on d2 for several moves.

Delaying d4 lets White develop according to Black's setup. White may play g3 and Bg2 to place one bishop on a long diagonal, or b3 and Bb2 to develop the other bishop. In either case, White pressures the center from a distance before deciding whether to occupy it with pawns.

The central decision

If White plays d4 and the position matches a Slav Defense, the game has transposed, meaning it reached the same position through a different move order. If White keeps the pawn on d2 and continues with d3, b3, or pressure on d5, the game retains an independent Réti character.

The Neo-Catalan shares the idea of a fianchetto, developing a bishop on a long diagonal after moving the neighboring pawn, and also delays d4. Black normally supports d5 with ...e6, however. In the Anglo-Slav, ...c6 and ...d5 are the main structural markers. Compared with the Advance Variation, Black's d-pawn stays on d5 instead of advancing to d4.