Reti: 1...c5: what should White play?

In the Reti Opening after the sequence leading to this position, the most statistically successful and engine-recommended continuation for White is dxc5. This move, played in 53.4% of recorded games, yields a high win rate of 64.4% and carries an engine evaluation of +1.14. By capturing on c5, White challenges Black's central structure and prepares to transition into favorable variations of the Catalan or Neo-Grunfeld systems.

Strategic objectives of dxc5

The move dxc5 is the primary choice in 22,000 recorded games because it forces Black to address the tension in the center immediately. By removing the c5 pawn, White often aims for the main line dxc5 d5 c4 O-O Nc3 dxc4, which leads to a complex struggle where White maintains a slight space advantage. The engine evaluation of +1.14 suggests that White's development, particularly the pressure from the g2 on the long diagonal, is highly effective once the center opens.

Alternative central approaches

When White prefers to maintain the central tension rather than capturing, c4 is the second most popular choice, appearing in 20.5% of games (8.4K recorded). This move carries an evaluation of +0.52 and often leads to the line c4 O-O Nc3 Nc6 d5 Na5, where White gains space by pushing the d4 pawn to d5. Another solid alternative is c3, played in 8.9% of games, which solidifies the center and prepares a slower buildup, scoring 53.8% for White.

Development and prophylactic moves

Less frequent but viable options include Nc3 and a4. While Nc3 has been played in 627 games with a 53.3% success rate, the engine views it as slightly less precise than the main capture, evaluating it at +0.33. The move a4 is a prophylactic measure against queenside expansion, though it remains rare in the database. In most cases, Black responds to these developing moves by clarifying the center with cxd4, leading to positions where White's f3 or c3 recaptures to maintain a presence in the middle of the board.