Catalan Opening: moves, ideas and plans

Queen's Gambit meets a kingside fianchetto. White's g2 bishop pressures the queenside for the whole game.

E05Play it as WhiteAdvanced18 moves

Main line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7

Key ideas

• g3 and Bg2 aim at b7 and the long diagonal.
• If Black takes on c4, White wins the pawn back with Qc2 or Qa4.
• Long-term pressure rather than a quick attack.

The Catalan Opening move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as E05 Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line.

1. 1. d4Centre.
2. 1… Nf6Flexible development.
3. 2. c4More space.
4. 2… e6Prepares ...d5.
5. 3. g3The Catalan: the bishop will go to g2.
6. 3… d5Black takes the centre.
7. 4. Bg2The key Catalan bishop, aiming at the queenside.
8. 4… Be7Solid development.
9. 5. Nf3Development.
10. 5… O-OBlack castles.
11. 6. O-OWhite castles.
12. 6… dxc4The Open Catalan: Black takes the pawn.
13. 7. Qc2White prepares to take back on c4.
14. 7… a6Black supports ...b5 to try to keep the pawn.
15. 8. Qxc4White regains the pawn.
16. 8… b5Gains time on the queen and space on the queenside.
17. 9. Qc2The queen retreats, still watching the c-file.
18. 9… Bb7Black challenges the long diagonal against White's g2 bishop.

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