ECO E01 · Catalan Opening

Catalan Opening: Tarrasch Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6

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

6. cxd5+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Catalan Opening: Tarrasch Defense (E01), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.396. cxd5 exd5 7. O-O Be7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. a3 a5
  2. +0.376. O-O dxc4 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 O-O
  3. +0.106. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a3 O-O 8. b4 Be7 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Qxd5 exd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Catalan Opening: Tarrasch Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 c5 5. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. cxd5 for White, continuing exd5 7. O-O Be7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. a3 a5. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 6. O-O (+0.37) and 6. dxc5 (+0.10).
Is the Catalan Opening: Tarrasch Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: 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: Tarrasch 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+).