Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2
7… c5+0.15
The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation (E03), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.15).
Top engine moves
- +0.157… c5 8. e3 Be7 9. Ne2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 e5 11. Nf5
- +0.547… Rb8 8. Nf3 b5 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd5 11. O-O c5 12. Rd1
- +0.557… Ra7 8. Nf3 c5 9. O-O b6 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. e4 cxd4 12. Nxd4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… c5 for Black, continuing 8. e3 Be7 9. Ne2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 e5 11. Nf5. The position is roughly equal (+0.15). The next best moves are 7… Rb8 (+0.54) and 7… Ra7 (+0.55).
Is the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Alekhine Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.15: 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, Alekhine Variation?
E03. 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+).