Catalan Opening: Open Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E02), reached after 8 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4.

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Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

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5.Nf3 2 lines
- E05 Classical Line
- E04 Modern Sharp Variation
5.Qa4+ 1 line
- E03 Alekhine Variation

About this opening

Catalan Opening: Open Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E02. 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 8 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4.

It belongs to the Catalan Opening family. Within that family this is a sub-variation (the Open Defense line).

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.g3 d5, 4.Bg2 dxc4. From this position 2 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.