Catalan Opening: Closed, Zagoryansky Variation
1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Rd1 b6 9. a4
9… Bb7+0.20
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Catalan Opening: Closed, Zagoryansky Variation (E08), reached after 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Rd1 b6 9. a4, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Bb7 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).
Top engine moves
- +0.209… Bb7 10. Nc3 a5 11. e4 dxc4 12. Qe2 b5 13. axb5 cxb5 14. e5
- +0.219… Ba6 10. b3 Rc8 11. Nbd2 c5 12. e4 Bb7 13. exd5 exd5 14. Bb2
- +0.269… a5 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. e4 c5 12. exd5 exd5 13. b3 Rc8 14. Bb2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Closed, Zagoryansky Variation?
After 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Rd1 b6 9. a4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Bb7 for Black, continuing 10. Nc3 a5 11. e4 dxc4 12. Qe2 b5 13. axb5 cxb5 14. e5. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 9… Ba6 (+0.21) and 9… a5 (+0.26).
Is the Catalan Opening: Closed, Zagoryansky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.20: the position is roughly equal. 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, Zagoryansky Variation?
E08. 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+).