ECO E01 · Catalan Opening

Catalan Opening: Open Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2

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

4… dxc4+0.25

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Catalan Opening: Open Defense (E01), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… dxc4 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.254… dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. dxc5 Bc6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. Be3
  2. +0.364… c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2
  3. +0.384… Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Qc2 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. O-O Be7 9. Rd1

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 dxc4
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Open Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… dxc4 for Black, continuing 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. dxc5 Bc6 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. Be3. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 4… c5 (+0.36) and 4… Bb4+ (+0.38).
Is the Catalan Opening: Open Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.25: 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: Open Defense?
E01. 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+).