ECO E09 · Catalan Opening

Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8… b6+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line (E09), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… b6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.498… b6 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne8 11. h4 Rc8 12. b3 c5 13. dxc5
  2. +0.498… c5 9. Rd1 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. N2b3 dxc4 12. Qxc4 Ne5 13. Qb5
  3. +0.588… h6 9. e4 b6 10. e5 Nh7 11. Re1 Bb7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Nf1

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Qc2 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. e4 Nbd7
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… b6 for Black, continuing 9. e4 Bb7 10. e5 Ne8 11. h4 Rc8 12. b3 c5 13. dxc5. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 8… c5 (+0.49) and 8… h6 (+0.58).
Is the Catalan Opening: Closed, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: 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, Main Line?
E09. 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+).