Catalan Opening: Closed, Sokolsky Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b6 9. b3 a5 10. Bb2 Ba6
11. e4+0.59
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Catalan Opening: Closed, Sokolsky Variation (E09), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b6 9. b3 a5 10. Bb2 Ba6, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. e4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.59).
Top engine moves
- +0.5911. e4 a4 12. e5 Ne8 13. bxa4 Nc7 14. Rfd1 c5 15. Rac1 Ra7
- +0.5911. Rfe1 Bb7 12. e4 a4 13. e5 Ne8 14. bxa4 Nc7 15. Bc3 c5
- +0.5611. Rfd1 a4 12. Rac1 axb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Qc7
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Closed, Sokolsky Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nbd2 b6 9. b3 a5 10. Bb2 Ba6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. e4 for White, continuing a4 12. e5 Ne8 13. bxa4 Nc7 14. Rfd1 c5 15. Rac1 Ra7. White is slightly better (+0.59). The next best moves are 11. Rfe1 (+0.59) and 11. Rfd1 (+0.56).
Is the Catalan Opening: Closed, Sokolsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.59: 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, Sokolsky Variation?
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+).