--- title: "Reti maneuver in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reti-maneuver.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reti-maneuver" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "The Reti maneuver is a king walk that heads for two goals at once, usually stopping a distant passed pawn while also supporting the king's own pawn." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rule-of-the-square.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/passed-pawn.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-activity.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/shouldering.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-promotion-race.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Reti maneuver in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. The Reti maneuver is a king walk that heads for two goals at once, usually stopping a distant passed pawn while also supporting the king's own pawn. The Reti maneuver is a king walk that heads for two goals at once, usually stopping a distant passed pawn while also supporting the king's own pawn, so the opponent cannot defend against both threats. Richard Reti published his famous study in 1921, and it still surprises students. White has a king on h8 and a pawn on c6; Black has a king on a6 and a pawn on h5. By the [rule of the square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rule-of-the-square.md) the white king cannot catch the h-pawn, and the black king stands close enough to catch White's pawn, yet White draws. The trick is a [diagonal](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/diagonal.md) king walk that carries two threats at once. After Kg7 and then Kf6, the king both approaches the h-pawn and heads toward the c-pawn's path, so a move toward c6 supports it. If Black runs the h-pawn, the white king arrives to help the c-pawn promote. If instead the black king spends its moves taking the c-pawn, the white king uses the time to catch the h-pawn. The lesson reaches beyond this one study. A king on a diagonal can threaten two things whose distances look unrelated on a straight line. Use it whenever you must stop a far-off pawn and support your own at once. The common [mistake](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mistake.md) is to chase one pawn only, which loses to the other plan. Look for the square from which both goals are reachable. Also called: Reti's king walk. ## Example position White to move. Kg7 draws: the king heads for the h-pawn and for the c-pawn's path in the same moves. After Kg7 h4 Kf6 Kb6 Ke5 Kxc6 Kf4, the white king catches the h-pawn. Position (FEN): `7K/8/k1P5/7p/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1` Also worth reading is [Shouldering](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/shouldering.md). Shouldering is a king maneuver in which one king steps into a square that cuts the opposing king off from a pawn or from the route toward it, so the opponent cannot approach. Compare it with [Theoretical draw](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md). A theoretical draw is a position in which perfect play by both sides leads to a draw, so neither player can force a win no matter how many moves are left. If "Reti maneuver" has cost you half a point, a [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) is a good place to find the pattern behind it: George Li goes through your games and builds a plan. ## Related terms - [Rule of the square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rule-of-the-square.md) - [Passed pawn](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/passed-pawn.md) - [King activity](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-activity.md) - [Shouldering](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/shouldering.md) - [Pawn promotion race](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-promotion-race.md) - [Theoretical draw](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Rule of the square in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/rule-of-the-square.md) - [Passed pawn in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/passed-pawn.md) - [King activity in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-activity.md) - [Shouldering in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/shouldering.md) - [Pawn promotion race in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/pawn-promotion-race.md) - [Theoretical draw in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/theoretical-draw.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)