Réti Opening: Réti Accepted: what to play after dxc4?

In the Réti Opening: Réti Accepted (ECO A09), White's primary continuation is e3, which prepares to immediately regain the gambited pawn on c4 with the light-squared bishop. Played in 63.0% of the 1,692,030 recorded games, it provides an engine evaluation of +0.22 while yielding a 59.6% scoring rate for White.

Regaining the Gambit Pawn with e3

The most frequent choice, e3, unblocks the f1 to target the advanced c4 pawn directly while bolstering White's presence in the center. An illustrative continuation demonstrates this central play: e3 a6 Bxc4 Nf6 d4 c5. White establishes a pawn on d4, regains material parity without delay, and develops pieces cleanly while Black challenges the center with the standard c-pawn advance.

Central Space with e4

The main alternative is e4, selected in 20.6% of database games (349K recorded) with an evaluation of +0.11 and a 57.4% score. Rather than contenting itself with a modest pawn structure, White seizes greater central space immediately. A sample engine sequence continues e4 Bg4 Bxc4 e6 d4 Bxf3, where Black seeks piece activity and exchanges on f3, while White secures a broad pawn center and the bishop pair.

Development Alternatives: Nc3 and Qc2

Developing the queenside knight via Nc3 is seen in 15.8% of recorded encounters (267K games), producing an evaluation of +0.15 and a 56.1% score. The illustrative line Nc3 a6 e3 Nf6 Bxc4 b5 shows Black aiming to expand on the queenside after White recovers the pawn. Finally, Qc2 represents a rare try (0.6% of games, 9.9K recorded) evaluated at -0.01 with a 55.9% score, as shown in Qc2 a6 e3 c5 Bxc4 Nf6.