ChessThe Catalan Opening is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3. Like the Queen's Gambit, White hits the center with c4, but the kingside bishop goes to g2, where it looks down the long diagonal at d5, c6 and b7, all the way to the rook on a8. Want to feel that "long-range pressure" for yourself? Open a free chess game and practice against the computer.
Moves and position
1. d4 Nf6White takes the center, and Black develops a knight first without deciding where the pawns go yet.2. c4 e6White grabs more space with the c-pawn, and Black gets ready to push d5.3. g3White pushes the g-pawn one square so the bishop can come to g2.
Why g2? Because that diagonal is long and crosses the whole board. As soon as Black's d5, c6 and b7 open up, the bishop hits the rook on a8 directly. It also protects White's king after castling.
What White wants
- Pressure on the long diagonal: The bishop on g2 makes it hard for Black to move the queenside pawns freely.
- No rush to win the pawn back: After Black takes on c4, White often takes it slowly: castle, bring out the queen, then win the pawn back.
- A very safe king: With the bishop on g2 and the king castled on g1, the kingside is very solid.
What Black wants
- Take c4, then develop: This is the "Open Catalan." Black takes the pawn first and develops the queenside while White goes to win it back.
- Hold d5 and play slowly: This is the "Closed Catalan." Black supports the center with c6 and Nbd7. The position is solid but rather passive.
- Find a way out for the c8 bishop: The pawn on e6 blocks it, so Black often plays b6 and Bb7, or pushes c5 to open the game.
Main lines
Open Catalan: taking on c4
After both sides castle, Black takes on c4. White is in no hurry and wins the pawn back with the queen. Black uses the time to push a6 and b5 and put the bishop on b7, where it faces the g2 bishop on the long diagonal. This is the most common Catalan position in professional games.
Closed Catalan: holding d5
Black doesn't take the pawn and holds d5 firmly. White then wants to push e4 to open the center, and Black looks for a chance to push e5 or b6 to free the bishop. It's a slow game, good for patient players.
Taking early: 4... dxc4
Black takes early, and White develops instead of rushing to grab the pawn back. The key in this line: after taking, Black should not rush to hold the pawn with b5. That is exactly what the trap below is about.
A common trap: clinging to the extra pawn, the a8 rook gets hit
After taking on c4, it feels natural for Black to hold the pawn with b5. In the Catalan, that is dangerous:
Once b5 is pushed, the b7 square is empty. As soon as the white knight leaves f3, the g2 bishop can reach all the way to a8. If Black blocks with the c-pawn:
Let's count. Even if the black queen takes the bishop on a8 at the end, White gave a knight and a bishop for a pawn, a knight and a rook. That's a pawn plus the difference between a rook and a bishop. If Black plays 7... Qb6 instead of taking the knight, Black has still lost the c6 pawn and the position is hard to play.
What Black should do: 6... Nd5 blocks the long diagonal with the knight. Even better, don't cling to the pawn with b5 at all. Develop, castle, and wait for White to come and win it back. Remember: in the Catalan, watch out once b7 and c6 are empty.
Who it suits
- Players who already know the Queen's Gambit and want more: The ideas are similar, with the long diagonal as an extra weapon.
- Players who like slow pressure rather than a brawl: The Catalan rarely gets wild right away. The advantage builds up bit by bit.
- Players who care about king safety: With the bishop on g2 and early castling, the kingside is very steady.
It looks a lot like the Queen's Gambit. The difference is the kingside bishop: in the Queen's Gambit it often goes to d3 or e2, while in the Catalan it sits on the long diagonal on g2 and controls Black's queenside from afar.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Catalan and the Queen's Gambit?
The first few moves are similar, with d4 and c4 against Black's d5 and e6. The difference is that the Catalan plays g3 and Bg2 to put the bishop on the long diagonal, while in the Queen's Gambit the bishop usually goes to d3 or e2. The Catalan is slower, and the point is long-term pressure.
If Black takes the c4 pawn, isn't White just a pawn down?
For a while, yes, but White usually wins it back. White brings the queen to a4 or c2 and takes on c4, or, if Black holds the pawn with b5, uses the long diagonal and a knight to hit a8 so Black can't keep it.
Is the Catalan good for beginners?
It can be, but learn the Queen's Gambit first. The Catalan's ideas are subtler. You often give up a little time or a pawn for long-term pressure. Once you're comfortable with 1. d4 positions, it will make much more sense.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Catalan, and see how much pressure the g2 bishop can put on Black. For other openings, go back to the openings guide. For something different, head back to the play chess online home page.
Play this opening against the computer