E02

Catalan Opening: Open Defense

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

Kramnik,V vs Topalov,V1/2-1/2
WCh • 2006★ Notable
Smyslov, Vassily vs Keres, Paul0-1
World Championship 18th • 1948★ Notable
Alekhine, Alexander vs Euwe, Max1/2-1/2
World Championship 17th • 1937★ Notable
Alekhine, Alexander vs Euwe, Max1-0
World Championship 17th • 1937★ Notable
Carlsen,M vs Duda,J1-0
Esports World Cup D 2025 • 2025
Portisch, Lajos vs Sokolov, Andrei1/2-1/2
Biel op • 1995
Smyslov, Vassily vs Polugaevsky, Lev1/2-1/2
Capablanca mem • 1967
Bronstein, David I vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
URS-ch20 • 1952
Smyslov, Vassily vs Keres, Paul1/2-1/2
URS-ch18 • 1950
Gurevich,D vs Dominguez Perez,L0-1
Titled Tue 16th Jul Late • 2024
Goganov,A vs Karjakin,Sergey1/2-1/2
73rd ch-RUS 2020 • 2020
Sadhwani,Raunak vs Praggnanandhaa,R1-0
Super Juniors CB IND KO • 2020
Aditya,Mittal vs Praggnanandhaa,R0-1
Super Juniors CB IND KO • 2020
Nyzhnyk,I vs Gukesh,D1/2-1/2
51st National Congress • 2020
Ding Liren vs Grischuk,A0-1
Lindores Abbey Prelim • 2020
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Sankalp,Gupta1-0
Montebelluna Dec 2019 • 2019
Korchnoi,V vs Kwatschewsky,L1-0
11th European Senior Team • 2009
Karpov,Ana vs Nisipeanu,LD1/2-1/2
Chess Champions League • 2007
Miroshnichenko,E vs Anand,V1/2-1/2
Bundesliga 2005-6 • 2006
Korchnoi,V vs Berkes,F0-1
III Marx Gyorgy • 2005

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