Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...e6/3. g3

Catalan Opening
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3

Catalan Opening edit

This is the Catalan Opening, named after the Spanish region of Catalonia, when Grandmaster Savielly Tartakower was asked, at the Barcelona tournament of 1929, to invent an opening system in honor of the region's chess history. Usually, the game continues 3...d5 4.Nf3. The Catalan then has two main branches, the Open Variation and the Closed Variation. In the Open Variation, Black takes the pawn on c4. This gives White strong pressure on Black's queenside, thanks to the fianchettoed bishop on g2. In the Closed Variation, Black retains his strong-point on d5, attempting to block out the bishop on g2, but stays passive.

Theory table edit

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.g3

3 4 5 6
Catalan Opening g3
d5
Nf3
dxc4
Bg2

Be7

O-O
O-O
=
Benoni Defence ...
c5
d5
exd5
cxd5
d6
Nc3
g6
=
Bogo-Indian Defense ...
Bb4+
Bd2

Qe7

Nf3

Nc6

=
...
Be7
Bg2
d5
Nf3
O-O
=
...
c6
Bg2
d5
Nf3
Nbd7
=

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References edit