Chess opening · ECO E00
Catalan Opening
In the Catalan, White meets 2...e6 with 3.g3 and plans Bg2. That bishop aims along the long diagonal at d5 and b7, so any black pawn on d5 is under constant pressure and Black's queenside can feel it too. White often offers the c4 pawn in return for that pressure. Black must decide whether to take the pawn, hold the center firmly, or disrupt White's setup with a bishop check.
- Rank by weighted share
- #151 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
- 3. g3The g-pawn makes room for Bg2. Combined with c4 and d4, the fianchetto bishop will work against the light squares in Black's center and queenside, especially d5, c6 and b7.
Open Catalan: taking on c4
After ...d5 and Bg2, Black can capture on c4. With the d5 pawn gone, the g2 bishop sees further, so White can often finish developing first and regain the pawn with the queen afterward.
Black often tries to keep the extra pawn for a while with ...a6 and ...b5, or uses the time to develop the queenside. Getting the c8 bishop to b7 to contest the long diagonal is a common goal.
Closed Catalan: holding d5
Black can also keep the pawn on d5 with ...Be7, castling and ...c6. Then the position is slower. Black's main problem is the c8 bishop, which needs ...b6 and ...Bb7 or a later ...e5 to find a diagonal.
The bishop check on b4
Black can also play ...Bb4+ right away. White usually blocks with Bd2, and Black chooses between trading bishops and retreating to e7. The retreat costs a tempo, but the white bishop on d2 then stands on a square where it has little to do.
Winning back the c4 pawn
3... d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7
White recovers the pawn with the queen, and Black uses the time to push the queen back and set the bishop on b7. Black's bishop on b7 now contests the long diagonal, facing the g2 bishop from the other end.
Top replies by rating
d5 leads every band with three moves shown, and from 1600 up Bb4+ is a clear second.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1599 | d5 74% | c5 26% | – |
| 1600–1799 | d5 44% | Bb4+ 35% | c5 20% |
| 1800–1999 | d5 55% | Bb4+ 29% | c5 16% |
| 2000 and up | d5 57% | Bb4+ 31% | c5 12% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.