Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3
8… b6+0.30
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation (E07), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… b6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).
Top engine moves
- +0.308… b6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Re8 12. Re1 Bb7 13. Nxf6+
- +0.548… Re8 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 e5 11. dxe5 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nc5 13. Qb1
- +0.568… a5 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 e5 11. dxe5 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nc5 13. Qe3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 c6 8. Qd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… b6 for Black, continuing 9. cxd5 exd5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Re8 12. Re1 Bb7 13. Nxf6+. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 8… Re8 (+0.54) and 8… a5 (+0.56).
Is the Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Catalan Opening: Closed, Botvinnik Variation?
E07. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).