E01

Catalan Opening: Closed

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3

The Catalan Opening combines the Queen's Gambit with a kingside fianchetto. White builds a strong positional bind, especially along the long diagonal. The resulting positions are strategically rich and favour patient, technical play.

History & Notable Players

Named after the Catalonia region of Spain where it was first played in 1929. It became Vladimir Kramnik's main weapon and is now one of the most popular openings at the top level.

Best Games

Gukesh,D vs Caruana,F1-0
45th Olympiad 2024 • 2024★ Notable
Gukesh,D vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2024 • 2024★ Notable
Giri,A vs Alekseenko,K0-1
FIDE Candidates 2020 • 2021★ Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Quesada Perez,Yu1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 9 • 2020★ Notable
Giri,A vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
Riga FIDE Grand Prix 2019 • 2019★ Notable
Aronian,L vs Radjabov,T1/2-1/2
Geneva Grand Prix 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Grischuk,A vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
Moscow Grand Prix 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Radjabov,T vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
Moscow Grand Prix 2017 • 2017★ Notable
Muzychuk,M vs Hou Yifan1/2-1/2
WCh Women 2016 • 2016★ Notable
Giri,A vs Adams,Mi1-0
6th London Classic 2014 • 2014★ Notable
Topalov,V vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold • 2008★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial • 2006★ Notable
Gelfand, Boris vs Lautier, Joel0-1
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1997★ Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Rublevsky, Sergei1-0
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1997★ Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Rublevsky, Sergei1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. • 1997★ Notable
Gukesh,D vs Erigaisi,Arjun1/2-1/2
FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 • 2025
Caruana,F vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn • 2024
So,W vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
SuperUnited CRO Rapid 2024 • 2024
Giri,A vs Caruana,F1-0
Superbet ROM Classic 2024 • 2024
Firouzja,Alireza vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Julius Baer Rapid Div 1 W • 2023

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