Library/Openings/Catalan Opening/Open Defense/Alekhine Variation ECO E03
Opening· 13 plies

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E03), reached after 13 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2.

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation ECO E03
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Black rook
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Black king
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Black pawn
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Black knight
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White pawn
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White queen
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E03. ECO group E (E00–E99) covers Indian defences against 1.d4, covering the Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, King's Indian and Catalan systems. This particular variation is reached after 13 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2.

It belongs to the Catalan Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Open Defense → Alekhine Variation line). The immediate parent line is Catalan Opening: Open Defense, transitioned via 7.Qc2.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.g3 d5, 4.Bg2 dxc4, 5.Qa4+ Nbd7, 6.Qxc4 a6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.