ECO E04 · Catalan Opening

Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+

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

7. Bd2+0.25

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

Analyze this position

In the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation (E04), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Bd2 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.257. Bd2 Nd5 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. O-O Rb8 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5 O-O
  2. +0.057. Nc3 Nd5 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 Be7 10. Rd1 Rb8 11. b3 Ndb4
  3. −0.447. Nbd2 c3 8. bxc3 Bxc3 9. Rb1 O-O 10. O-O Bxd4 11. Rd1 Bb6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Bd2 for White, continuing Nd5 8. Bxb4 Nxb4 9. O-O Rb8 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5 O-O. The position is roughly equal (+0.25). The next best moves are 7. Nc3 (+0.05) and 7. Nbd2 (−0.44).
Is the Catalan Opening: Open Defense, Modern Sharp Variation 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, Modern Sharp Variation?
E04. 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+).