ECO D02 · Queen's Pawn Game

Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3

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

3… c5−0.07

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

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan (D02), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.07).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.073… c5 4. c3 e6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc3
  2. +0.243… g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 dxc4 6. Na3 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. dxc5
  3. +0.263… c6 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. b3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a5 8. c4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Bg4
  • 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d4 e6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan?
After 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… c5 for Black, continuing 4. c3 e6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc3. The position is roughly equal (−0.07). The next best moves are 3… g6 (+0.24) and 3… c6 (+0.26).
Is the Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.07: 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 Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan?
D02. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).