Catalan Opening E00
E — Indian defenses · Family: Catalan Opening
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3
The Catalan Opening (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2) combines the Queen's Gambit with a fianchetto: the g2-bishop presses along the a8–h1 diagonal against Black's queenside for the rest of the game. It was Vladimir Kramnik's main weapon against Kasparov in 2000 and has been an elite mainstay ever since.
The Open Catalan (with ...dxc4 and ...b5 hits) and the Closed Catalan (with ...Be7 solid set-ups) lead to different kinds of pressure, but the strategic constant is the same: the light squares around Black's queenside are a lifelong problem. Typical plans include Nbd2-e5 maneuvers and slow pressure with Qc2 and b3/Rc1; Black fights with timely ...c5 and ...b5 counterplay and by blockading the long diagonal.
Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.
- Position after 5 half-moves — Black to move.
- Material is balanced.
- Family “Catalan Opening” contains 32 recorded variation(s) here.
Variations tree of the Catalan Opening family
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Variations of this family
| Name | ECO | Main line length |
|---|---|---|
| Catalan Opening | E00 | 6 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Hungarian Gambit | E00 | 6 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | E01 | 7 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Tarrasch Defense | E01 | 10 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | E02 | 8 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | E03 | 11 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation | E03 | 13 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | E04 | 9 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense | E04 | 10 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation | E04 | 12 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line | E05 | 10 plies |
| Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line | E05 | 12 plies |
Related puzzles
Lichess tactics played in this opening — solve them right on the board: