Library/Openings/Catalan Opening/Open Defense/Modern Sharp Variation ECO E04
Opening· 12 plies

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E04), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+.

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation ECO E04
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Black rook
Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black pawn
Black knight
Black pawn
Black knight
White queen
Black bishop
Black pawn
White pawn
White knight
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White pawn
White bishop
White pawn
White rook
White knight
White bishop
White king
White rook
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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, Modern Sharp Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E04. 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 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+.

It belongs to the Catalan Opening family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Open Defense → Modern Sharp Variation line). The immediate parent line is Catalan Opening: Open Defense, transitioned via 6…Bb4+.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.g3 d5, 4.Bg2 dxc4, 5.Nf3 Nc6, 6.Qa4 Bb4+. 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.