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.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
E00 - Indian Defense545E02 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense70E03 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense56E04 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense863E05 - Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line385E06 - Catalan Opening: Closed1109E07 - Catalan Opening: Closed105E08 - Catalan Opening: Closed133E09 - Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line83
Best Games
Gukesh,D vs Caruana,F1-0
45th Olympiad 2024 2024Notable
Gukesh,D vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2024 2024Notable
Giri,A vs Alekseenko,K0-1
FIDE Candidates 2020 2021Notable
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Quesada Perez,Yu1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 9 2020Notable
Giri,A vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
Riga FIDE Grand Prix 2019 2019Notable
Aronian,L vs Radjabov,T1/2-1/2
Geneva Grand Prix 2017 2017Notable
Grischuk,A vs Nakamura,Hi1/2-1/2
Moscow Grand Prix 2017 2017Notable
Radjabov,T vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
Moscow Grand Prix 2017 2017Notable
Muzychuk,M vs Hou Yifan1/2-1/2
WCh Women 2016 2016Notable
Giri,A vs Adams,Mi1-0
6th London Classic 2014 2014Notable
Topalov,V vs Gelfand,B1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2008Notable
Gelfand,B vs Aronian,L1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial 2006Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Rublevsky, Sergei1-0
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997Notable
Gelfand, Boris vs Lautier, Joel0-1
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997Notable
Beliavsky, Alexander G vs Rublevsky, Sergei1/2-1/2
FIDE-Wch k.o. 1997Notable
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