Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Be7
6. Qa4++0.41
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line (E05), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Qa4+ for White. White is slightly better (+0.41).
Top engine moves
- +0.416. Qa4+ c6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Ne5 Nxe5
- +0.336. O-O O-O 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 Qd5 10. Qc3 Qh5
- +0.176. Nc3 O-O 7. Ne5 c5 8. dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 10. Be3 Bb4+
Other move orders
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Qa4+ for White, continuing c6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qc2 Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Ne5 Nxe5. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 6. O-O (+0.33) and 6. Nc3 (+0.17).
Is the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Classical Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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: Open Defense, Classical Line?
E05. 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+).